WILDFIRE WARNINGS SOUNDED: Rainfall Totals Well Below Average

Inland Empire residents were advised to take steps to safeguard their homes as low rainfall and dry conditions could make it a rough wildfire season for Riverside County.

A dry winter throughout California has officials worrying that the 2013 wildfire season could arrive early and have more adverse impacts to the state as seen in according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Homeowners were recommended to refer to the Wildfire Home Assessment & Checklist made available by the institute. The checklist offers guidance to identify possible wildfire risks around a home and resources on how to build spaces around a property to forestall the spread of fire.  The checklist also provides a cost estimate that could help homeowners prioritize which safeguards would work for them, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

The organization urged people to check DisasterSafety.org for information about wildfire protection. People can also watch a video on a related topic at http://vimeo.com/22751346.

Meteorologists say this year has seen some parts of California in the driest three-month period since recordkeeping began in 1849.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rainfall totals today are well below average. According to agency data compiled by a weather station at Riverside Airport, the period July 1, 2012 through March 28, 2013 indicates the area has received just 4.02 inches of rain, or 36 percent of normal precipitation.

Normal rainfall for the area during the July 1 through March 28 time period is 11.13 inches, according to the NOAA. --City News Service and Toni McAllister