4-Year California Rainfall Deficit
2011-12 to 2014-15

by Jan Null, CCM
Updated June 23,  2015

These tables and chart show the total deficit in California rainfall since the 2011-2012 season July 1 to June 30) in both inches and percent of normal.

For example, San Francisco is 31.63 inches behind their normal four-year total.  Consequently, to make up all of the deficit, the rainfall that San Francisco would need this coming winter would be 55.28" (i.e., 31.63" + 23.65") or 234% of normal. [The all time record for San Francisco is 49.27"!!]

It should be noted that making up the rainfall deficit is very different than the requirements to "end the drought" as the components of a drought are dependant upon a myriad of variables like the type of user, population, existing supplies etc.
4-year Deficit
...NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... Normal in. % Normal
Crescent City 64.03 62.81 98%
Eureka 40.33 33.49 83%
Ukiah 37.35 50.37 135%
Redding 34.62 42.21 122%
Sacramento 18.52 21.00 113%
Santa Rosa 36.28 53.00 146%
San Francisco 23.65 31.63 134%
Oakland 20.81 29.35 141%
San Jose 14.90 23.01 154%
Nrn Sierra 8-Station Index (map) 54.53 64.42 118%
4-year Deficit
...CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... Normal in. % Normal
Stockton 14.06 19.33 137%
Modesto 13.11 17.07 130%
Fresno 11.50 20.77 181%
Bakersfield 6.47 10.09 156%
Salinas 12.83 16.09 125%
Paso Robles 12.78 24.04 188%
Santa Maria 13.95 27.73 199%
San Joaquin 5-Station Index (map) 42.51 79.09 186%
Tulare 6-Station Index (map) 30.50 57.00 187%
4-year Deficit
...SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA... Normal in. % Normal
Sandberg 12.33 26.35 214%
Palmdale 8.30 18.96 228%
Santa Barbara 17.76 33.75 190%
Los Angeles 14.93 30.59 205%
Irvine 13.33 31.49 236%
San Diego 10.34 12.78 124%
Ontario 15.04 30.95 206%
Riverside 12.40 30.96 250%
Palm Springs 5.74 13.09 228%
Campo 15.73 24.47 156%

Note: - The averages for the three Sierra Nevada Indices (Northern Sierra, San Joaquin and Tulare) have been recalculated to correspond with the 1981-2010 normals used at the other sites.