California to dry out next week?

That's what National Weather Service forecaster George Cline told me this morning -- that a high-pressure ridge like the one that kept us dry for most of the winter is making a comeback in early April. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center is noncommittal beyond the next week or so, and AccuWeather foresees another shot of rain returning late next week, although Cline says that system may fizzle before it leaves the Pacific Northwest.

“Even if we get normal precipitation in April, it's not a lot,” Cline said.

Here are the March and seasonal rainfall totals and comparisons to normal for selected California cities, according to the National Weather Service. Totals are as of today:

Redding: Month to date 4.8 inches (normal 3.87 inches); season to date 18.37 inches (normal 29.1 inches)
Eureka: Month to date 6.49 inches (normal 4.56 inches); season to date 27.75 inches (normal 33.74 inches)
Sacramento: Month to date 2.65 inches (normal 2.43 inches); season to date 8.35 inches (normal 16.16 inches)
Modesto: Month to date 2.38 inches (normal 1.8 inches); season to date 5.95 inches (normal 11.15 inches)
Salinas: Month to date 2.2 inches (normal 1.98 inches); season to date 7.94 inches (normal 11.18 inches)
Fresno: Month to date 2.04 inches (normal 1.77 inches); season to date 5.74 inches (normal 9.65 inches)

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