By Reginald Stanley. Posted February 4, 2021, 8:01 PM.

Although February is, on average, the wettest month of the year in Southern California - our weather pattern this week has returned to a dry pattern through at least the middle of the month.

Following a moderately wet final week of January, a high pressure blocking pattern has reestablished itself just off the west coast of the United States, preventing any significant precipitation from impacting the region for the foreseeable future. This blocking pattern was common during the droughty rain years of 2012 through 2016, as well as during the dry 2017-2018 winter. Forecasts do not currently look promising, with the pattern remaining stubbornly persistent through at least February 20th. Seasonal rainfall-to-date across the region is dipping into well below average ranges, a deficit which increases every day during what is typically the wettest time of the year. Late February and March could still bring precipitation chances, although at this time, that remains uncertain. In 2020, the wettest period of the rainy season occurred in March and early April.

Temperatures are expected to remain mostly seasonal over the next week, with the exception of above-average temperatures predicted for Friday and Saturday.