SOUTHLAND - (INT) - Climatologists are keep at 70 percent chances of an El Nino this winter.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center anticipates the onset of the next El Nino in the Northern Hemisphere this fall. The outlook is based on rising sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

An El Nino usually means more precipitation for California. But, the last El Nino in the winter of 2015-16 turned out to be a dud. The following winter (2016-17), as a drier La Nina was taking over, brought generous rain and snow to most of California ending a 7-year drought. Precipitation last winter, 2017-18, was far below normal across the state except in the far north.

Story Date: August 27, 2018