California suffering through driest three years ever recorded, with no relief in sight
California endured its driest two years on record during the month of May, 2017, a period that marked an 11th consecutive year with zero precipitation on the Central Time Zone. The average precipitation for May of 2017 was about 0.15 inches, the lowest for the month since 1895. This month was also the driest for all of 2017 to date.
Statewide, the average statewide precipitation for the month was just 0.6 inches; the lowest statewide average for the month since 1895.
May was also the driest month since January of 2015. California has not had a month with a daily precipitation total less than 0.01 inch since January of 2016.
The most recent statewide average daily precipitation was 3.06 inches on January 9; the most recent statewide average daily precipitation was 3.15 inches on May 1, 2016.
Last month, the statewide average daily temperature was 9.3 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest in the series of 2017, having been 9 degrees on May 5, 2016. The statewide average daily temperature was colder than all of 2016 and 2015 and hotter than all of 2014. The statewide average temperature this month was below all of 2016 and 2015, and above all of 2013 and 2012.
Statewide, the statewide average temperature was 7.3 degrees with a high of 70 and a low of 59 degrees; the statewide average temperature was 7.7 degrees with a high of 69 degrees and a low of 54 degrees.
The current statewide average high temperature was 67 degrees with a low of 59 degrees. The current statewide average high temperature was the second highest temperature on record for the month of May.
The statewide average low temperature was 46 degrees with a high of 54 degrees. The statewide average low temperature was the fifth lowest temperature of the year on record for the month of May.
The statewide daily precipitation total was 14.9 inches; the statewide average daily precipitation total was 17.1 inches, and the statewide average daily precipitation total was a record for May.
The statewide percentage of precipitation was 53 percent of the total; the statewide percentage of precipitation was the highest for the month in 13 years; the statewide percentage of precipitation was the second highest for the month in 17 years.
