California Braces for Return of Stormy Weather After Dry Start

After a dry start to the rainy season in California, there are signs that storms will soon return, bringing much-needed rain and snow. The state has received less than half of its normal precipitation, with the snowpack at about a third of average. A zone of high pressure off the coast has deflected storms, causing Southern California to stay dry. However, forecasters are tracking a possible shift in the storm track over the Pacific, which could bring significant storms in late December and January. The emergence of this pattern has been seen in previous high impact El Niño winters. The state's reservoirs are currently at 121 percent of their average levels, but the arrival of atmospheric rivers would greatly benefit water supply.