A year ago, one of the strongest El Nino weather patterns in recorded history was predicted for Northern California. We did end up with the wettest winter in recent years. But as the water year officially ends September 30th, this winter’s outlook is much less certain. National Weather Service meteorologist Craig Shoemaker says temperatures in the area of the Pacific Ocean that creates wet El Nino patterns or drier La Nina Patterns are more mild…

click to listen to Craig Shoemaker

And Shoemaker emphasizes that we would still need several years in a row of above average precipitation before we can truly alleviate five years of drought conditions. And the snowpack wasn’t as helpful as it could have been last winter…

click to listen to Craig Shoemaker

During the last 24 neutral seasons on record, the National Weather Service says 14 were considered dry.