SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — With storms calming down, does that mean El Nino is over?
KRON’s Justine Waldman asked the experts on Monday to get some answers.
All models indicate that El Niño is weakening.
Bay Area residents took out their umbrellas, wore rain boots, and packed in the sandbags–all to prepare for the pounding rains.
Experts predicted a strong El Niño, or warming in the Pacific Ocean, that would bring some drought-busting rain to California.
“El Mino was pretty much on target,” consultant meteorologist Jan Null said.
Null told KRON El Nino lived up to its expectations, but did not turn out to be as some scientist called it a “Godzilla” rainmaker.
“It did not live up to some of the other very strong El Ninos in 1997 and…1992,” Null said.
Snow, slick roadways, and strong winds came with this spring snow storm in the Sierra on Monday, which bodes well for reservoirs, which make up one-third of California’s water when it melts.
While El Nino did not deliver in Southern California, where February was the hottest month for high temperatures ever recorded, Northern California did get rain.
It was enough to take down trees and make a mess of mud, but it did not act like a monster.
“For the Bay Area, the amounts were about as forecasted by meteorologists, a lot less than (what was) forecasted by the media,” Null said.
Even so, water districts want customers to keep saving water because the year’s long drought could keep hanging on.
Keep in mind, it is not unusual for us to get rain late in spring. So, an “Awesome April” or Miracle May” with rain could be coming.
KRON checked on Monday, and we will find out in May if the governor will keep or get rid of the 25 percent mandatory water restrictions we are following now.