The majority of San Luis Obispo County is now experiencing severe drought conditions, according to a new U.S. Drought Monitor report.
Only the northwest corner of the county is spared the “severe” designation — even so, it’s experiencing abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
A very dry winter has caused drought conditions to spread quickly from Southern California up the Central Coast and into the Central Valley.
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Cal Poly has recorded only 4.51 inches this rain season, as of Feb. 15, according to PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.
San Luis Obispo’s average rainfall for this point in the season is 12.43 inches, meaning the city has received 36 percent of its typical rainfall, Lindsey said.
Last year on Feb. 15 — after San Luis Obispo recorded its rainiest January in 20 years — Cal Poly had received 33.48 inches of rain, which was 269 percent of its average, Lindsey said.
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