LA JOLLA, Calif. (KGTV) - Climatologists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography say we need more rain to finally pull out of the region's prolonged drought.
A recent report from the National Weather Service's Drought Monitor showed San Diego County as still in "Moderate Drought" levels, the second lowest level of drought. That's a big improvement from a few years ago, but still problematic.
"Historically, we're very volatile," says Dr. Dan Cayan from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. "We are the most volatile are in the US as far as the ups and downs of precipitation."
That's made it difficult for San Diego to get out of the drought. The region averages 10.34 inches of rain each year. But it rarely gets that much.
In the last 10 years, San Diego has only reached or topped its average four times. Other years have had as little as 3.3 inches.
So far, 2019 has seen 9.11 inches of rain fall in San Diego. That's still below average.
"This last series of storms has been very beneficial," says Dr. Cayan.
The official rain year runs from October 1 to September 30, so Dr. Cayan adds there's still time for more rain to fall.
