The good and bad news about a possible El Nino
June 6, 2014
Following three years of oppressive drought, scientists place the odds of an El Nino bringing a wet winter to California at 82 percent. However, the strength of the possible El Nino has been reduced from strong to moderate. [Mercury News]
El Nino is a band of warm ocean water temperatures that periodically develops off the Pacific coast of South America. El Nino conditions often brings significantly wetter winters to California.
In November, scientists placed the chance of El Niño conditions at 36 percent. Scientists now say the chance of developing an El Nino by this fall is 82 percent, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
However, NOAA scientists said, it looks like a moderate — rather than a strong — El Niño is developing. And while strong El Ninos bring significantly wetter winters to California, moderate El Ninos bring more than average rainfall only about half the time.