2020 rainfall creeps toward seasonal averages

Updated 4/4:

March produced 3.53″ of rain, bringing the seasonal totals to 10.8 inches. Another two inches is projected this week. According to City records, Paso Robles averages about 14 inches annually. The season runs from July through June annually. This week’s rainfall may bring the seasonal total within a couple inches of the annual average, with two and a half months left in the season.

Updated 3/7:

Following six weeks of dry weather, Paso Robles finally saw some rain, with more on the way. Trailing the seasonal average by more than 3″, much more rain is needed to keep up with our local demand for water. See here for the week’s forecast.

Updated 1/17:

Rainfall totals ticked up to 7.27″ on Friday, Jan. 17 after little more than 1/2 inch (.58) fell Thursday and Friday morning.

Updated 12/4:

Picking up 1.14” overnight, Paso Robles Raif all totals topped the December rainfall average (2.33”) in just four days with 2.34” month-to-date. The current rainfall for the season is just over 4” with some slight chances of rain over the next week.

Original post:

With a wet week in the outlook ahead, the agricultural community in Paso Robles is off to a good start for the season. With a historically severe drought receding into the past, another rainy year will keep hope and harvests alive.

The County of San Luis Obispo does not have a sensor in the city limits of Paso Robles, but all the surrounding sensors — Shandon, Creston, Hog Canyon, and Templeton — registered more than 2 inches, and the Paso Robles Water Yard, at 1230 Paso Robles Street, registered 2.6 inches as of Monday. Things are off to a good start, and more rain to come, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association calling for more rain this week.

For a few years, all of California has seen healthy seasonal rainfall, with reservoirs at or near capacity, and signs of the drought all but a memory. On the heels of a short but severe fire season, statewide rainstorms complicated Thanksgiving travel but brought more than two inches of welcome rain to Paso Robles in just a few days of downpour.

Historic Average: 1942-2019	0.06	0.04	0.18	0.59	1.38	2.33	3.08	2.81	2.27	1.02	0.28	0.03
Cumulative Average	0.06	0.1	0.28	0.87	2.25	4.58	7.66	10.47	12.73	13.76	14.04	14.07

2018-19	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0	0	0	0.28	3.23	1.12	5.3	6.72	3.01	0.08	0.82	0
Cumulative	0	0	0	0.28	3.51	4.63	9.93	16.65	19.66	19.74	20.56	20.56

2017-18	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0	0	0.16	0.08	0.22	0.04	2.08	0.25	7.74	0.21	0	0
Cumulative	0	0	0.16	0.24	0.46	0.5	2.58	2.83	10.57	10.78	10.78	10.78

2016-17	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0	0	0	1.61	1.46	1.8	9.5	6.44	0.92	1.46	0.24	0
Cumulative	0	0	0	1.61	3.07	4.87	14.37	20.81	21.73	23.19	23.43	23.43

2015-16	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	2.82	0	0.05	0.07	1.45	0.89	4.13	0.85	2.92	0.15	0	0
Cumulative	2.82	2.82	2.87	2.94	4.39	5.28	9.41	10.26	13.18	13.33	13.33	13.33

2014-15	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0.03	0	0	0	1	5.48	0.32	2.16	0.1	0.37	0.05	0
Cumulative	0.03	0.03	0.03	0.03	1.03	6.51	6.83	8.99	9.09	9.46	9.51	9.51

2013-14	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0	0	0	0.01	0.26	0.3	0	2.75	1.96	0.85	0	0
Cumulative	0	0	0	0.01	0.27	0.57	0.57	3.32	5.28	6.13	6.13	6.13

2012-13	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
Total	0	0	0	0.28	0.75	3.94	1.02	0.28	0.69	0.07	0.15	0
Cumulative	0	0	0	0.28	1.03	4.97	5.99	6.27	6.96	7.03	7.18	7.18