El Niño bringing lighter rain than years past

The amount of rain in the Bay Area during the last half of 2015 is less than in previous El Nino years, National Weather Service officials said Saturday.

The amount of rain that has fallen from July 1 to Dec. 5 is inches less in many cities across the region, according to NWS officials.

The lack of rain makes it less likely this year’s El Nino will alleviate California’s drought, NWS officials said.

The North Bay has been especially dry, NWS officials said.

Kentfield received 2.55 inches of rain in the last half of this year, compared with 18.53 inches in 1997 and 23.69 inches in 1982, according to NWS officials.

Napa received 2.33 inches, compared with 10.52 inches in 1997 and 13.07 in 1982, NWS officials said.

Oakland received 1.45 inches, as recorded at the Oakland Museum of California, compared with 9.66 inches in 1997, according to NWS officials.

The differences south of San Francisco are not as much, NWS data showed.

The Salinas airport reported 3.23 inches, compared with 5.54 inches in 1997 and 7.40 in 1982, according to the NWS data.

King City reported 2.04 inches, compared with 5.69 inches in 1997 and 4.18 in 1982, NWS data showed.