By Reginald Stanley. Posted June 11, 2014, 9:35 PM.

Temperatures since January 1st, 2014 all the way through June 11th (as of this writing) have been consistently warmer than normal in the region, according to records.

In Temecula, of the 161 days so far this year - 131 one of them were at or above daily averages. Only 30 of them were cooler than normal. February, April, and May were all the warmest in Temecula in at least 15 years. January 2014 was the second warmest January, behind January 2003. March 2014 came in at second place for warmest March, behind March 2004. Records for Temecula date back to August, 1999.

The year has been characterized by stubborn high pressure systems over the West, worsening drought conditions and bringing long stretches of unseasonably warm days and nights. The 2013-14 winter was also the first in the last 15 years in Temecula to not bring at least one freezing temperature. Exceptions to this rule were Anza, Cherry Valley, Hemet, Menifee, and Wildomar.

The lack of cold temperatures and rain was also noted in the very low snowpack in the mountains last winter. Most storms were very weak and held little moisture, and the only wet storm of the winter was also the warmest - preventing snow from falling below 8000 feet above sea level, and even that snow quickly melted within two weeks of the storm.

Warmer than normal sea surface temperatures off Southern California's coast may also have been at least partially responsible for the warm nights this year. Maps at the Climate Prediction Center's website show a 50 percent chance of a warmer than normal summer in Southern California.