METEOROLOGISTS HAVE REPORTED A DECREASING PROBABILITY OF HEAVY STORMS IN CALIFORNIA THIS WINTER. A STRONG EL NINO–A MASS OF WARM PACIFIC OCEAN WATER AT THE EQUATOR–PREVIOUSLY PROMISED RAINS HEAVY ENOUGH TO END THE STATE’S 3-YEAR DROUGHT. A REPORT RELEASED BY THE NOAA TODAY (THURS) REVEALS THE CHANCE OF STORMS WILL DECREASE TO 65% IN OCTOBER, DOWN FROM OVER 80% IN JUNE. IF CALIFORNIA ENTERS A FOURTH YEAR OF DROUGHT, STATEWIDE MEASURES REGULATING GROUNDWATER PUMPING MAY BE REQUIRED.
