Swaths of California recorded the smallest rainfall total in history for January, February and March — normally the wettest months. This has left the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, an important part of the state's water supply, far lower than usual. The dry conditions are also making it difficult for officials to replant forest areas because there's not enough moisture.
Rain or water years are measured from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next. The driest year in L.A.'s recorded history was 2006-07, when a meager 3.21 inches of rain fell. That broke the record set in 2002-03, when 4.42 inches fell. The third-driest year was 1961, when just under 5 inches fell.
The current fourth-driest year saw 5.58 inches in 1959, and weather experts said this year will almost certainly beat that record.
"Don't let some of the green out there fool you," said Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Tony Valdez, who is in charge of brush clearance for the city. "We get the occasional rains that spur growth, but underneath the conditions aren't good."
With the rainy season close to over, firefighters and weather experts are counting on the cloudy "May gray" and "June gloom" weather conditions to provide a measure of moisture and relief.
"If the marine layer is depressed and we have a pretty warm spring and early summer, then we're going to be seeing a lot more fire activity earlier this season, and the fires will be bigger than they normally are," said Tom Rolinski, a meteorologist with the U.S. Forest Service's Predictive Services Program.
The lack of rain can be seen across the landscape.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-04-17-dry-fire-20130420,0,4197542.story
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