The National Weather Service says this year's precipitation for Seattle is currently 26.29 inches. The last year Seattle had less than 30 inches of rain was in 2000 with 28.66 inches, according to NWS Seattle.
NWS also said in 74 years of records at Sea-Tac Airport, there have been only six years with less than 30 inches of precipitation.
The month of November is normally the wettest month of the year, but this year, November was the driest Seattle has had since 1976, said KING 5 meteorologist Rebecca Stevenson. It's the month we had hoped would add extra inches to the rain gauge.
So, why not as much rain?
Western Washington has weather under the influence of a large blocking pattern created by high pressure. The ridge of high pressure is redirecting weather systems up to British Columbia or farther south to California.
These types of blocking patterns have happened before in years classified as Neutral Winters related to the El Nino Southern Oscillation.