Historic California Monthlly El Nino Rainfall
Historic California Monthly Rainfall:
Strong and Very Strong El Niño Events
 (1950-2015)
 
 Jan Null, CCM
October 19, 2015

This is a catalog of California rainfall during Strong (57-58, 65-66, 72-73) and Very Strong (82-83, 97-98) El Niño events.

One of the most striking take-aways is that the December precipitation was BELOW AVERAGE throughout most of California during both "Strong" and "Very Strong" events .

Important:  The usual caveats apply in that this data is simply an analysis of past events, and is not a forecast; especially given the same sample sizes.

Monthly Percent of 65-year Mean (1950-2015) 

Monthly Percent of 65-year mean by Location (1950-2015) 

   
   
   
   

Monthly Percent of 65-year Mean by Location (1950-2015)
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Season
San Francisco
SE 41% 330% 393% 257% 140% 85% 131% 153% 128% 132% 70% 42% 134%
VSE 87% 454% 149% 165% 214% 60% 207% 314% 192% 190% 402% 36% 195%
Both 64% 392% 271% 220% 170% 75% 161% 218% 154% 155% 203% 39% 158%
Mean 0.21 0.08 0.25 1.15 2.93 4.16 4.32 3.65 3.02 1.48 0.55 0.21 22.02
San Jose
SE 70% 54% 190% 145% 190% 94% 109% 159% 121% 119% 47% 174% 128%
VSE 146% 265% 227% 141% 252% 76% 217% 282% 201% 234% 243% 0% 202%
Both 100% 138% 209% 144% 215% 87% 152% 209% 153% 165% 125% 87% 158%
Mean 0.12 0.10 0.23 0.77 1.70 2.52 2.82 2.58 2.19 1.14 0.43 0.12 14.73
Eureka
SE 72% 39% 146% 108% 90% 86% 126% 113% 123% 57% 45% 60% 99%
VSE 144% 112% 160% 143% 136% 106% 169% 220% 174% 124% 131% 71% 151%
Both 101% 68% 153% 122% 108% 94% 144% 155% 144% 84% 79% 64% 120%
Mean 0.71 0.39 0.83 2.66 5.60 7.07 6.46 5.26 5.34 3.11 1.62 0.69 39.74
Redding
SE 68% 126% 252% 140% 148% 74% 131% 186% 87% 132% 66% 213% 128%
VSE 259% 118% 112% 154% 160% 80% 168% 261% 231% 158% 293% 130% 177%
Both 144% 123% 182% 146% 153% 77% 145% 216% 145% 143% 157% 171% 147%
Mean 0.90 0.38 1.03 2.17 4.79 6.63 6.97 5.88 5.00 2.50 1.54 0.90 38.69
Sacramento
SE 91% 309% 293% 95% 130% 77% 124% 160% 116% 118% 66% 40% 120%
VSE 178% 228% 292% 176% 234% 98% 154% 249% 189% 205% 280% 234% 188%
Both 149% 276% 293% 128% 172% 86% 136% 196% 145% 153% 151% 118% 148%
Mean 0.21 0.07 0.34 0.97 2.20 3.15 3.67 3.11 2.44 1.28 0.58 0.21 18.23
Fresno
SE 208% 34% 81% 55% 206% 102% 74% 145% 161% 92% 109% 25% 121%
VSE 88% 0% 316% 144% 249% 78% 211% 224% 222% 188% 170% 529% 197%
Both 148% 25% 175% 91% 223% 92% 129% 176% 185% 131% 140% 277% 152%
Mean 0.18 0.02 0.20 0.57 1.17 1.65 2.02 1.92 1.79 1.07 0.41 0.18 11.19
San Luis Obispo
SE 90% 0% 0% 156% 217% 85% 138% 143% 133% 137% 20% 4% 133%
VSE 95% 11% 406% 186% 261% 138% 180% 277% 181% 214% 481% 29% 211%
Both 92% 5% 135% 164% 235% 106% 154% 196% 152% 168% 204% 14% 164%
Mean 0.09 0.05 0.29 0.94 2.32 3.73 4.71 4.63 3.43 1.61 0.42 0.09 22.30
Los Angeles
SE 77% 205% 195% 130% 304% 153% 75% 161% 118% 99% 45% 0% 140%
VSE 0% 0% 207% 21% 219% 80% 160% 274% 258% 294% 597% 44% 207%
Both 46% 102% 200% 86% 270% 124% 109% 206% 174% 177% 321% 18% 168%
Mean 0.07 0.09 0.31 0.46 1.48 2.23 3.31 3.29 2.40 1.04 0.29 0.07 15.05
San Diego
SE 223% 18% 129% 231% 298% 219% 61% 105% 123% 109% 83% T 142%
VSE 41% 0% 217% 7% 153% 95% 122% 322% 252% 182% 128% 104% 179%
Both 177% 9% 164% 119% 240% 170% 86% 192% 174% 145% 105% 104% 157%
Mean 0.10 0.11 0.28 0.51 1.07 1.46 1.95 1.79 1.74 0.78 0.25 0.10 10.15
8 Station Nrn Sierra Index
SE 57% 235% 218% 101% 125% 74% 114% 136% 90% 87% 41% 115% 104%
VSE 213% 138% 215% 179% 147% 86% 169% 229% 200% 151% 201% 143% 167%
Both 120% 196% 217% 132% 134% 79% 136% 173% 134% 113% 105% 126% 129%
Mean 0.95 0.34 0.89 3.12 6.53 9.35 9.11 8.15 7.18 3.90 2.26 0.94 52.72
5 Station San Joaquin Index
SE 99% 319% 80% 68% 154% 93% 79% 121% 108% 99% 61% 114% 103%
VSE 224% 56% 315% 188% 166% 106% 171% 243% 195% 153% 230% 204% 180%
Both 149% 214% 174% 116% 159% 99% 116% 170% 143% 121% 128% 150% 134%
Mean 0.62 0.18 0.70 2.03 4.55 6.59 7.10 6.51 5.89 3.55 1.76 0.63 40.10
6 Station Tulare Basin Index
SE 125% 155% 126% 95% 147% 104% 106% 116% 139% 98% 79% 55% 115%
VSE 144% 48% 455% 201% 200% 132% 144% 245% 206% 162% 281% 558% 194%
Both 133% 112% 258% 137% 168% 115% 121% 168% 166% 124% 160% 256% 147%
Mean 0.35 0.15 0.52 1.16 3.06 4.76 5.31 4.89 4.48 2.69 1.14 0.36 28.87


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