According to NOAA the 2015 El Nino has tied 1997-98 as strongest in recorded history.

It would appear drought stricken California and the West is reaping the benefits but as per usual in classic powerful El Nino’s, rains and storms come in hard.

This is the 5 freeway in north LA this morning.

Visible satellite shows bumpy clouds representative of heavier rain cells pushing across the Basin.

Drought continues to hold strong throughout California as seen from the below US drought monitor but a healthy moisture rich strong El Nino pattern in December and likely throughout January, possibly February, March and April sure will help.

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Snow water content is looking healthy throughout the Western US and given the pattern should remain stormy, things can only go up.

The new drought monitor map to be released tomorrow may well show subtle improvement from the 29 Dec release and given an active pattern through the next 10 days and perhaps the remainder of January, this years El Nino season may well make a big dent in this multiyear drought.

LAX saw a record 1.74 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.

Here are the 24 hour rain and snow totals ending 4am today from the last system.

This wet weather in this part of the world can indeed cause big headaches on the freeways.

US 101 this morning.

Plenty of snow up at Big Bear.

Trans Sierra routes are looking pretty bad.

The parade will continue…

QPF rainfall next 7 days.

We may see an additional 6 feet of snow over the Sierra with the San Gabriel/San Bernardino Mountains getting a good bounty also.

See today’s video for the discussion.

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Tags: california drought, el nino, el nino california rain