INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – January is turning out to be the region’s wettest month in two years.

Rainfall from a series of storms the past two weeks has been impressive. Most rain gauges in the Metro area have collected 2-inches but the amounts fall far short of that measured in the mountains.

Big Bear Lake set a new record Thursday of 2.09", beating out the old record of 2.04" set back in 1988. Nearly 5 inches of rain fell at the Big Bear Dam and upwards of 6-10 inches across the Rim. Lytle Creek recorded the Inland Empire’s greatest rainfall with a 4-day storm total of 10.4 inches.

Snowfall ranged up to 10-12 inches at the ski resorts and deeper at higher elevations.

The rainfall season is on track with that of 2016-17 when California’s 7-year drought ended.

California’s so-called 5-month rainy season is only half over. But, historically the remaining 2-months have shown considerable variations.

Story Date: January 30, 2019