Latest rain keeps Santa Rosa from logging driest January ever

<p>It rained again Thursday -- not that much, but enough to prevent Santa Rosa from setting a record for the driest January ever.</p><p>And more rain is on the way today, as much as half an inch, with up to 2 inches expected in some coastal areas by Monday if an offshore storm system moves on shore, forecasters said.</p><p>The problem, say the forecasters, is that the unstable weather predicted to hang around for the next few days is exactly that: unstable and unpredictable.</p><p>"It's kind of a disorganized storm system," said Dave Samuhel, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. "We're going to have off-and-on rain, and we're going to see this, it looks like, the next couple days. Then the crystal ball gets a little hazy."</p><p>The light showers that fell in the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Thursday brought .15 inches of rain to the area; enough to assure Santa Rosa at least gets more rain this month than its record dry January in 1976, when total rainfall measured only .39 inches. So far, the total rainfall this month is .45 inches.</p><p>January, the wettest month most years, more typically brings an average 15.55 inches of rain to the area. In 1909, the wettest year on record, January rainfall was 18.45 inches.</p><p>Just how many days of showery weather remain to contribute to the monthly total is uncertain. "I just don't feel confident with this pattern," said Samuhels, with AccuWeather. "I'd say my confidence is a bit lower than usual in the long-range forecast. It could end up being a lot of rain, or it could be just completely dry Monday and Tuesday."</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat</p><p>.com.</p>