Pass Area Tracking To Meet Annual Average Rainfall, Desert Is Ahead

BANNING-BEAUMONT, CA — Yes, already, a lot of rain has recently fallen over the Pass Area: About 25% of the precipitation logged year-to-date for the region dropped over the last week.

Despite the drenchings, floods and swollen creeks, however, it will take more storms to meet or exceed the region's annual average rainfall, according to data from the National Weather Service.

There's still plenty of time.

Meteorologists track annual precipitation beginning July 1. If Banning-Beaumont gets around 4 inches of rain between now and that summer date, the region will meet the annual average rainfall amount.

Mother Nature could help it along this year. Southern California is experiencing an El Niño event — more frequent and intense storms — the peak of which was forecast as December through February by the NWS.

On Thursday, the agency reported the current El Niño appears to be weakening but its impacts could persist through April.

So, how many inches of rain did we recently get and where are we year-to-date? Below are the National Weather Service figures as of 6 p.m. Thursday for Beaumont, as well as other communities across the county:

While Beaumont's numbers are encouraging, the Coachella Valley totals are more interesting. Desert Hot Springs, Indio and Palm Springs have already exceeded their annual average rainfall. In Indio, the figure is more than double — and the year is still young.

But it could be a spell before significant rainfall hits the area again. Light on-and-off precipitation is slowly moving out of the area, and by the weekend it's dry weather ahead, according to the NWS.

"Finally ... by Saturday ... here comes the sun," the agency's forecast discussion read. "The never-ending troughing pattern across the western U.S. will finally push east and building high-pressure moves in. Slow warming sets in on Saturday and temperatures will warm a few degrees each day. Highs will finally reach seasonal averages by next Wednesday ... . Skies will clear out for the most part as well, with SoCal finally returning to our normal and cherished bright conditions."