<p> Is El Niño coming soon? Meterologists and climatologists seem to be in agreement that California might just see <B>potential rainfall coming this summer</b>, but the amount of rain all depends on how strong El Niño will be. If there is rain, how will it affect crop production for grapes, strawberries, avocados, or fruits like apples and pears, for example? There could be some <B>major impacts</b> ahead for certain growers…</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> The fact is that the rain would <B>wreck havoc</b> on these specific crops, possibly resulting in lower yields for the summer. In a recent article, Stephen Stirling, weather, climate and data reporter for The Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ said El Niño's impact on a more localized area like California is next to impossible to predict.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"Even if a strong El Niño pattern did develop, it could turn out to be more of a threat than a blessing. Exceedingly dry soil doesn’t initially absorb water well, and a deluge could cause flooding or mudslides that could threaten both California residents and the state’s highly valued agricultural crops," Stirling wrote.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>This past March, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an El Niño Watch, predicting a <B>roughly 50% chance for El Niño</b> later this year. There is still some hope for growers. Even if El Niño does develop, this would not guarantee rain in California.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> <img width="190" class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/20140415_ca_none.png" alt="cropped_images_042214" />99% of California is currently facing drought conditions, according to the US Drought Monitor. Although a strong El Niño might spell disaster for certain varieties of crops, the added moisture may bring some relief to a dry California.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"California is seeing snowpack that is 23% of normal and the state’s reservoirs are at 63%, so any increase may help a parched California," said noted climatologist Evelyn Browning-Garriss of the Browning Newsletter. "If the El Niño develops into a long event that continues into next winter, it will bring a lot of good moisture to California."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Will a strong El Niño develop? If so, will it bring more rainfall to parched California? Amidst all the uncertainties, California residents are still very much hoping for rain.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay glued to AndNowUKnow as we continue to follow this story as it unfolds.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/index.shtml" target="_new"> National Weather Service Climate Prediction Service </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
