Napa County’s latest rain season looks a lot like the ‘D’ word and, unlike last year, that word isn’t “deluge.” Napa State Hospital as of Monday had received .03 inches of rain for the month, a mere spit of water.
December usually is among the rainiest months of the year with an average of 5 inches.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Anderson predicted a Wednesday morning storm might bring a quarter-inch of rain, with dry weather following through the end of the month.
That means the city of Napa could end up receiving less than an inch during December.
Rather, dry weather and cold nights could then continue through Christmas and New Year’s Day, he said.
Pechner said medium-range weather forecasts hint at a pattern change in the second week of January.
The storm expected Wednesday morning is out of the Gulf of Alaska.
It is taking more of an overland trajectory, so it will be drier than if it came off the ocean.
The rain season runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
The season average by Dec. 31 is 10 inches, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.