SOUTHLAND – (INT) – If an El Nino develops this winter, it may not even put a dent in the drought.

Forecasters have downshifted chances of a weak El Nino to 60 percent. That’s a change from the 85 percent chance of a moderate El Nino that was initially predicted.

JPL climatologist Bill Patzert says the warm water phenomenon is usually associated with more winter rain.

“Weak El Nino’s are not good forecasters of winter rainfall in California. At this point, don’t get your hopes up.”

But even without a predicted El Nino, heavy rains that struck Southern California in December 2010 unleashed floods that caused widespread damage.

Story Date: October 8, 2014