Weak El Nino History in California: The Past 7 Weak El Nino’s by the Numbers

SnowBrains | | Post Tag for WeatherWeather
Of the past 8 weak El Ninos in Northern California, 4 have shown above average precipitation, 3 have show below average precipitation
Of the past 8 weak El Ninos in Northern California, 3 have shown above average precipitation, 3 have show below average precipitation, and one was average.

El Nino might make California a ski haven this winter.  It also might not change anything.  It also might make things worse than they already are (which is scary to imagine…).  The reality is that the past 7 Weak El Ninos show that El Nino in California, as far as precipitation goes, it essentially a 50/50 coin toss.

According to NOAA, this year, it’s looking like we’ll most likely experience a Weak El Nino in the USA.  These graphs show us what the past 7 Weak El Ninos looked like precipitation-wise in California.

el nino california
A Weak El Nino gave us our worse season on record in 1977. 32 inches of liquid water below average. Ouch. Of the past 7 Weak El Ninos in CA, 3 were above average in precipitation, 3 were below average, and one was average.

Of course, as skiers, we’ll never see El Nino as a 50/50 coin toss.  El Nino means one thing and one thing only.  We’re thinking 1983’s record breaking snowfall.  1998’s persistent bilzzards.  1995’s insane snowpack.

el nino california
Of the past 7 weak El Ninos in Southern California, 4 have shown above average precipitation, 3 have show below average precipitation

The numbers displayed here in these graphs show reality, not skier dream seasons.  California has always had a way of coming through for us when we need her most.  With this in mind, we know she’ll come through for us this year.  We need a big one, Cali.

el nino california
During the past 7 Weak El Nino’s in California, 4 were below average in precipitation, 2 were above average, and one was average.

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