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NASA: El Nino Helpful or Harmful for CA Drought

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Forecasters are predicting a record setting El Nino for California this fall. The waters of the Eastern Pacific are heating up and the steady build-up signals a strong El Nino event this fall, with some calling it a Super El Nino.
 
Meteorologists say it's the second strongest on record for this time of year and could be one of the most potent weather changers of the past 65 years.
    
California desperately needs rain but El Nino could cause too much rain too soon, producing mudslides and floods.
   
"This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla of El Nino," NASA Climatologist Bill Patzert said.

El Nino is a weather pattern that can have an impact around the world. In the U.S it usually means heavier than normal winter rain in California and much of the south and east.
 
"That classic pattern of El Nino where warm water pools off the west coast of South America will shift the jet streams that bring storm tracks in the winter time to southern California and the desert southwest a little further north, bringing some much needed rain and snow pack for that region," NASA Scientist Doug Morton said.

That could mean good news - and bad news - for drought-stricken California.

It's so dry in the state they have placed 96 million plastic balls in the states reservoirs to block the sun, hoping to save 300 million gallons from evaporation.

the drought is also fueling lots of wildfires...
 
"California and northern California particularly are seeing a particularly bad fire season this year, based on drought conditons," Morton added.

With the fires burning up California's vegetation, NASA says if this El Nino lives up to its potential it could bring a lot of floods, mudslides and mayhem.

Some say even if El Nino happens, it doesn't guarantee the rain and snow needed to ease the current drought problems. The state would need one-and-a-half times its normal rainfall to get to end the dry season...
 
"El Nino only increases the probabilities of seeing at or slightly above precipitation. It doesn't mean it's going to be a state wide, two year deficit breaking rainfall," Morton said.

In the meantime, after four years of dry weather, southern Californians are keeping their fingers crossed that El Nino saves the day.

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About The Author

Charlene Aaron
Charlene
Aaron

Charlene Aaron serves as a general assignment reporter, news anchor, co-host of The 700 Club, co-host of 700 Club Interactive, and co-host of The Prayerlink on the CBN News Channel. She covers various social issues, such as abortion, gender identity, race relations, and more. Before joining CBN News in 2003, she was a personal letter writer for Dr. Pat Robertson. Charlene attended Old Dominion University and Elizabeth City State University. She is an ordained minister and pastor’s wife. She lives in Smithfield, VA, with her husband.