Dry spell isn’t uncommon for Merced in El Niño years
The Merced area did not see any measurable rain through the first 12 days of February, but that’s not unusual, even during an El Niño year, forecasters say.
The final day of January was the last time much of the San Joaquin Valley felt raindrops, according to meteorologist Kevin Lynott with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
“We can go through dry spells through El Niño years, so that’s what’s basically happened,” he said. “It’s not out of the ordinary.”
While Northern California has been feeling the effects of an El Niño, which usually means a deluge, the beginning of this month here has been dry.
January was soggy, bringing 4.49 inches of rain, more than half of the total 8.21 inches to date for the rainy season. This month isn’t likely to see rain, Lynott said, until early Thursday.
Normal rainfall for mid-February is 0.85 inches. The foothills, as usual, have been wetter and are expected to continue to be soaked, he said. With fewer than a dozen days left in the month after the next storm comes Thursday, Lynott said, the Merced area is likely to miss its average of more than 2 inches for February.
“It’s probably going to fall short in most areas based on our prediction,” he said. “We’re only looking at the one storm.”
We can go through dry spells through El Niño years, so that’s what’s basically happened. It’s not out of the ordinary.
Meteorologist Kevin Lynott of the National Weather Service in Hanford
He said it’s possible the area will see a “very wet March” and make up for a parched February.
The forecast calls for a sunny sky and temperatures in the high 60s to lower 70s through Wednesday. Then a chance of rain will re-enter the picture Thursday, according to Lynott.
“We’re just keeping our fingers crossed for the storm Wednesday night (or) Thursday,” he said. “Things can change.”
This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Dry spell isn’t uncommon for Merced in El Niño years."