California faces dry January despite strong start [Video]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — January is statistically the wettest month for much of California, and while the month started with a solid weather system delivering post-New Year’s rain and snow, the water hose has turned off. A stubborn ridge of high pressure is blocking wet weather systems from pushing into the Golden State, resulting in a stretch of dry weather.

The last measurable rain for Downtown Sacramento was Jan. 3 when 0.30 inches of rain fell. At that point, the water year, which runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, was showing solid signs of coming in above if not well-above average. In fact, the first snow survey showed above average snowpack, and the Department of Water Resources increased water allocations for the dry season.

However, as the calendar flipped, so did …