SOUTHLAND – (INT) – A year ago, Californians were bracing for the impact of El Nino. Now, a drier and contrasting La Nina seems to be in the works far out in the Pacific where much of our weather originates.

El Nino proved to be a dud for Southern California as most incoming Pacific storms landed in the northern part of the state.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is now focused on El Nino’s counterpart La Nina forecasting a 70 percent chance of a weak La Nina this fall. However, the CPC’s confidence drops to 55 percent that La Nina will stick around for the winter when California gets most of its precipitation.

That could bring the so-called ‘oscillation’, based on Pacific Ocean temperatures, back to neutral.

While La Nina generally favors less rain and snow for California, a neutral winter could put precipitation around average.

Story Date: October 24, 2016