A Monster El Nino This Winter Still No Guarantee

The upcoming El Nino this fall and winter is set to become one of the most powerful of all times, according to climatologists.  This could give drought-stricken California heavy rainfall during the winter. Currently, the sea-surface temperatures in a designated location of the Pacific Ocean are now exceeding 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the average.  These readings are the highest recorded since the end of the 1997-98 El Nino. 

However, scientists caution in order for us to feel the full effects of El Nino, the east-to-west trade winds of the Pacific Ocean along the equator need to dramatically collapse.  This would allow the sea near Peru to warm up even further.  So far, this hasn't happened. 

Experts also warn while more rainfall would certainly be welcome, there's no real hope one rainy winter could reverse the severe effects of the four-year drought in California.  Instead, it would take years of above-average rain and snow to end the drought and refill empty reservoirs and wells.