By Reginald Stanley. Posted January 11, 2016, 12:51 AM.

A parade of relatively wet storms greeted the new year, bringing much-needed rains to Southern California this week, boosting season totals and providing temporary drought relief to the region. The storms prompted the National Weather Service to issue Flash Flood warnings, watches and Winter Storm warnings to parts of the region.

The three storms were warmer and wetter in nature than the cold, drier December storms. For most locations, the highest rainfall occurred during the first of the three storms, on January 4th and 5th. Rain during that storm began late Monday night but most of it fell during the day Tuesday. Particularly heavy rainfall was reported early Tuesday afternoon all across the region. Precipitation amounts from that storm ranged from 0.37 inches in San Jacinto to 2.70 inches in Northwest Murrieta. Fourteen WeatherCurrents stations recorded totals in excess of one inch on Tuesday alone.

Another wet storm followed on Wednesday the 6th, however the duration of that storm was shorter than the first one. Most communities recorded totals only slightly lower than that of the previous storm, with the exception of De Luz, Fallbrook, French Valley, Moreno Valley, San Jacinto and Simi Valley, which recorded higher totals on Wednesday. Rain totals on Wednesday ranged from 0.60 in East San Jacinto (courtesy of Monty Parrott) to 1.61 inches in De Luz. While the Wednesday storm was generally more unstable and carried higher thunderstorm risk, no significant thunderstorm activity was reported. Cold temperatures followed and brought snow levels in the mountains down to approximately 5,000 feet above sea level.

A third storm, much weaker than the previous two, brought additional rain on Thursday the 7th. While most communities recorded less than 1/2 of an inch Thursday, some locations were subject to bursts of heavy rainfall. WeatherCurrents stations in Beaumont (Cherry Valley), Temecula, Riverside (Presidential Park), San Bernardino, and Moreno Valley recorded higher totals on Thursday. Most of that rain fell early Thursday morning.

Totals from January 4th through the 7th added up to between 2 and 4 inches in most communities, with hilly locations having been favored with generally higher rain amounts. Beaumont (Cherry Valley) led the way with a cumulative 4.66 inches recorded during that period. Only Pinon Hills recorded a cumulative total of less than 2 inches (1.78 inches) last week. Other notable totals included 3.59 inches in Temecula Valley's Wine Country (courtesy of Jim Sappington), 2.79 inches in East Highland (courtesy of Peter Michas), and 2.65 inches in East San Jacinto (courtesy of Monty Parrott). Season totals for the date were near normal or slightly above normal across the region.

Here are the rain totals for the WeatherCurrents network and associates:

1. Wildomar season total incomplete.
2. Menifee totals used manual rain gauge on-site.