How often does it rain in southern California?

Answer 1

In climatic records going from today back to between the 1850s and 1870s, rainfall data for lowland stations in Southern California indicate that no more than 17 inches (430 millimetres) of rain falls in an average year. In the southern portions this figure is still lower at no more than 10 inches (250 millimetres) in San Diego. At higher elevations figures are much higher, with Cuyamaca (at 4640 feet or 1415 metres) in the mountains near San Diego receiving 36 inches or 900 millimetres and Mount Wilson (at 5,790 feet or 1765 metres) 40 inches or 1,000 millimetres. Above 6,000 feet, precipitation is over 40 inches, and at the highest altitudes precipitation takes in the form of snowfall, which totals 131.3 inches (3.33 metres) at 7,750 feet on Mount Baldy.

Almost all rainfall in Southern California occurs from October to April - except for a few at very high altitudes in the eastern edge of the region July is rainless in more than five-sixths of all years, whilst June and August are rainless in over half of all years, and September rainless in around half. Even the "wet" months from November to March can be rainless during dry seasons or periods. On the other hand, in very wet months totals can reach up to 60 inches (1,500 millimetres) at high altitudes, whilst the record in Los Angeles is 15.80 inches (401.3 millimetres) in December 1889 and in San Diego 9.26 inches (235.2 millimetres) in December 1921.

Annual averages in Southern California, however, are extremely misleading. Variability is very high compared to the rest of North America, all of Europe, and almost all of East Asia and South America. At Santa Barbara, where the average is around 17 inches, actual falls have ranged from 4.41 inches or 112.0 millimetres in rain year (July to June) 1876/1877 to 46.92 inches or 1,191.8 millimetres in rain year 1997/1998. At San Diego totals have ranged from 2.99 inches (75.9 millimetres) in 2001/2002 to 25.97 inches (659.6 millimetres) in 1883/1884.

Although Southern California is at low altitudes semi-arid to sub-humid and distinctly humid at high altitudes, rainfall is actually rare over the region. Even in the wettest parts, annual raindays are no more than 40 per year - for comparison fewer than arid Alice Springs in Central Australia. However, in the mountain regions daily rainfalls can be among the heaviest in the world - on 22 January 1943 twenty-six inches fell in one day at Hoogee Camp in Pasadena Canyon, and between 19 and 26 January 1969 many mountain stations recorded over 40 inches (1 metre) of precipitation in one week! A fall of 10 inches in a day can be expected once a decade in the higher mountain regions, and in those regions a daily fall of 5 inches (127 millimetres) can be expected once a year. At low elevations in Santa Barbara a daily fall of 3 inches (76 millimetres) can be expected once a year.

Answer 2

Bearly ever does it rain in may in NorCal.

Answer 3

It does rain a lot in north California in the winter compared to the rest of the state. Some northern cities see up to 50 inches of rain per year.

Answer 4

Yes, it rains in California.

Answer 5

Yes.