Wunderground.com - 3/4/2013, Christopher C. Burt
After a wet November and December the past two months have been the driest start to a year since 1852 for most of central and northern California. San Francisco (downtown) has picked up only 1.34” of precipitation since January 1st, its 3rd driest such period on record (since 1849). Normal for the two months is 8.96”.
Sacramento has seen just 1.32” during January-February (normal is 7.66”). San Francisco and Sacramento have the longest precipitation POR’s (periods of record) in the state with data beginning in the fall of 1849 for both cities. San Francisco’s driest Jan-Feb was in 1852 when just .72” was measured. The same year was also Sacramento’s driest with a total of .70” for the two months. Amazingly (given the long POR’s for both sites), the 2nd driest such period was just one year earlier in 1851 when San Francisco picked up 1.26” and Sacramento 1.00”. So this year is now ranked the 3rd driest start to the year for both cities. For other sites in the region without POR’s dating back to 1852, this year ranks as the driest such period. Here are some of the two-month totals (January-February 2013) for other sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and northern California (listed from north to south)
For more details click: Driest January
