California drought set to begin after last rainfall of the season
As Southern California basks in the aftermath of a rare rainy weekend, whispers of an impending dry spell loom large.
Last weekend's rain could be the last rainfall Southern California will see for a while, as drought season kicks in.
Much of the region has experienced a rainy wind-filled weekend, with gusts of up to 40mph. But as we move into the summer months rain is likely to become a thing of the past.
Southern California’s rainfall tends to drop off suddenly during April and May. In April, Los Angeles typically receives around 0.70 of an inch of rain, but this year, during April, only 0.22 of an inch fell, all of which occurred last Saturday. In May, an average of 0.32 of an inch of rain falls on average.
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However, there is still a chance of a storm of a similar style to what the region experienced over the weekend through the first half of May.
What is the weather?
AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said, "Water temperatures are still cooler than the historical average from Hawaii to Baja California, Mexico."
The cool water temperature may hold back the usual large area of high pressure from developing in the far west, similar to what is often seen in mid-to-late spring. High pressure developing will shut down shower activity, allowing warmth and dry conditions to build across the West ahead of the North American monsoon.
Depending on where the storm loses steam, this could bring repeated downpours to parts of the southern High Plains, making drought problems less of an issue there - but it’s also possible that too much of a good thing may occur, leading to unwelcome flash flooding.
Who will be affected by the drought?
According to the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center, existing drought areas are expected to persist and possibly intensify across the Northwest, the Southwest, portions of the Rockies, much of the Plains, and parts of the adjacent Midwest.
There looks to be a slightly above-normal precipitation in parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico. These regions are usually very dry during May and June and normally experience a sharp increase in rainfall during July when the Southwest Monsoon kicks in.
Drought areas in Hawaii are expected to persist, whereas Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are expected to remain drought-free.
Why does California experience drought?
The Golden State experiences drought seasons due to a combination of its climate and geographical features, and now due to the increasing impacts from climate change.
The state's normal Mediterranean-like climate, with dry summers and wet winters, means the summer season is particularly susceptible to periods of drought, particularly during the dry season.
