El Nino Expected, But May Not Bring Rain To Parched California

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept 4 (Reuters) - The Pacific Ocean phenomenon called El Nino, which can lead to storms in the U.S. Southwest and other places, will likely start soon, but may not bring hoped-for relief to drought-parched California, U.S. government meteorologists said on Thursday.

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report the likelihood was increasing that El Nino, characterized by a warming of the ocean temperature in the eastern Pacific near the equator, would be weak this year.

A weak El Nino could still bring flooding, storms and even hurricanes to Southern California, but it is too soon to tell whether that will happen, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the agency.

The state, the largest U.S. grower of fruits and vegetables, is in the throes of a devastating drought that is expected to cost its economy $2.2 billion in lost crops, jobs and other damage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/05/el-nino-california-drought_n_5769532.html?utm_hp_ref=extreme-weather