At the beginning of the new year, California’s snowpack looked promising. On Jan. 2, the state’s Department of Water Resources measured the snowpack at 108% of average, for that date. The bomb cyclone in November and a push of winter storms in December had set up California’s mountains with a better start than last year. On the same day last year, the state’s snowpack was just 28% of average, to date. … Weather experts say La Niña typically sets up a weather pattern that favors Northern California with wetter conditions, leaving the southern parts of the state drier. Now that La Niña is officially in play, many say this trend will likely continue. 

Related articles:

• SFGate: Rain isn’t coming to the Bay Area anytime soon. Here’s what it means.
• San Francisco Chronicle: No rainfall in sight for California. Here’s how long dry weather will last
• NBC 7 San Diego: San Diego has driest start to water year in recorded history
• Fox 5 & KUSI San Diego: San Diego back in drought conditions amid Red Flag Warning, more Santa Ana winds
• Weather West blog: Following historic wildfire disasters in Southern California, a statewide dry spell intensifies and extreme fire weather conditions persist in the south