Parched California has driest 'rainy season' on record
Pastor Dale Morgan
Parched California has driest 'rainy season' on record*
LOS ANGELES, July 1 (AFP) Jul 01, 2007
Los Angeles suffered through the driest rainy season on record in 2007,
marking the least amount of precipitation here in the 130 years rainfall
has been measured, weather officials said Sunday.
There were just 8.15 centimeters (3.2 inches) of rain in Los Angeles
between January 1 and June 30 -- barely a fifth of the annual average
rainfall of 38.3 centimeters (15 inches).
"This was the driest rain season ever in downtown Los Angeles and at
many other locations in southwestern California," the National Weather
Service said in a statement.
Most California rains fall in the first half of the year, particularly
between January and March.
The National Weather Service began compiling precipitation statistics in
1877.
Los Angeles residents saw very heavy rains from late 2005 into early
2006, but officials warned that water rationing is possible by next
winter if drought conditions persist.