128 years of rainfall in Los Angeles

The 2004-05 rainy season, already the third wettest on record, has the potential to top the mark set more than a century ago. Since meteorologists began recording tallies in the 1870s, Los Angeles has experienced seven seasons with more than 30 inches of rain. In most cases, strong El Nino conditions have been responsible for heavier rainfall. This year’s El Nino has been weak and is apparently ending.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX) *--* *--* How El Nino affects weather *--* *--* El Nino is an irregular cyclical oceanographic phenomenon that affects weather around the globe and frequently brings above-average rainfall to Southern California. La Nina, the opposite end of the cycle, usually leads to drier than normal weather in Southern California. *--* *--* La Nina: *--* *--* Trade winds blow warm surface water toward the western Pacific Ocean, leaving the eastern Pacific relatively dry. *--* *--* El Nino: *--* *--* Trade winds relax, allowing warm water and associated heavy rainfall to move toward the eastern Pacific. *--* *--* Storm history -- Key weather-related events triggered by heavy rainfall: *--* *--* Early record years: Strong El Nino years, periods of heavy rain *--* *--* 1883-84: Los Angeles River floods, destroying two bridges and sweeping away 40 houses from a newly built tract. *--* *--* 1889-90: Flooding destroys nearly every bridge in Los Angeles. Wettest month ever (December): 15.8 inches. *--* *--* A relatively dry spell: Moderate El Nino years, periods of moderate rainfall *--* *--* 1913-14: Floods prompt formation of the L.A. County Flood Control District. *--* *--* 1937-38: Flooding kills at least 90 people, destroys 5,600 homes in L.A. County and causes $65 million in damage in Southern California. Wettest day ever (March 2, 1938): 5.88 inches. *--* *--* 1940-41: Los Angeles River overflows and causes flooding. Sepulveda and Hansen dams completed. *--* *--* 1968-69: Storms kill at least 90 people and cause $57 million in damage. Ventura marina destroyed. Wettest January ever: 14.94 inches. *--* *--* Recent years: Strong El Nino years, periods of heavy rain *--* *--* 1977-78: Gov. Jerry Brown declares a state of emergency in most of Southern California. *--* *--* 1979-80: Storms destroy or damage 1,450 homes. President Carter declares Southern California a federal disaster area. *--* *--* 1982-83: Storms severely damage the Santa Monica Pier and destroy the Seal Beach Pier, damage 8,400 homes and cause $106 million in damage. *--* *--* 1992-93: Storms kill at least eight people. Gov. Pete Wilson declares a state of emergency. *--* *--* 1997-98: Deadly mudslide roars through a Laguna Beach hillside community. *--* *--* Sources: Jay Lawrimore, National Climatic Data Center; National Weather Service; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Graphics reporting by Brady MacDonald, Mark Phillips and Maloy Moore

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