Rainfall totals in January in the Santa Cruz Mountains climbed to the 20-inch range, approaching the total for the entire October-September “rain year last year, considered an average year.
This has state and national hydrologists conferring next week to consider lifting drought designations from at least several counties, including Santa Cruz County, which has been drenched by at least three rain storms and high winds in the New Year.
After clearing Thursday through the weekend, another big storm system, courtesy of the infamous “Pineapple Express” — an “atmospheric river” pouring water into the West Coast from the Central Pacific.
