Red and brown areas of map indicate precipitation less than 50 percent of normal. Courtesy National Weather Service

The light rain that fell in many parts of San Diego County on Wednesday night ended one of the longest periods without significant precipitation.

The National Weather Service office in San Diego said Thursday the brief showers ended 226 consecutive days with less than 0.5 inches of precipitation recorded at Lindbergh Field.

The airport received only 0.7 inches, but Del Mar and the Elfin Forest area got 0.17 inches.

“Wet roads were a rare sight across portions of the area overnight,” the weather service said Thursday. “But that is it for the rain. A dry weather regime is expected today through early next week.”

The only longer periods without significant precipitation were 231 days ending on Nov. 27, 2009, and 235 days ending on Nov. 16, 1973.

The weather service noted that it’s the second driest start to the California water year, which begins Oct. 1, and also the warmest local fall on record.

San Diego is not alone in lacking rain. Much of the southwest United States is experiencing much lower precipitation than normal this season.

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.