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El Nino May Be Down, But Still Isn't Out For Central and South Coasts

Latest satellite image showing El Nino still present in eastern Pacific

Many people thought it was going to help ease the drought, but for the Central and South Coasts, El Nino has turned out to be a disappointment. As the days pass by, many climatologists say the possibility that we’ll see more badly needed rainfall from El Nino fueled storms is diminishing.

The last few days have brought us record setting heat, with all time high temperature records falling at places like Camarillo, Oxnard, and Santa Barbara.

The hoped-for El Nino fueled spring rainfall many people had hoped for to help ease the drought hasn’t materialized. As of this morning, Camarillo’s rainfall is 48% of its annual average, and Santa Barbara’s is at 61% of average.

As the days pass, experts say it appears that the possibility of more badly needed El Nino fueled rainfall is dropping.

Dr. Bill Patzert, with NASA’S Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, says we are seeing some signs that a La Nina pattern could develop in the Eastern, and Central Pacific.

While an El Nino pattern brings warmer than average ocean temperatures, a La Nina means cooler than average temperatures, something which can contribute to drought conditions.

Patzert says while things appear to be pretty bleak with El Nino, there’s still a sliver of hope it could support some heavy spring rainfall.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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