Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Godzilla El Niño Rains Haven't Forgotten Us, They're Just Running Late
When climatologists warned of a 'Godzilla El Niño last fall, fancy-looking charts and animated maps led us to believe that by now, Los Angeles would practically have been swept away into the Pacific Ocean. But it's mid-February, very hot, and very dry. Not exactly what we were expecting, especially compared to past El Niños. However, weather experts are saying don't be fooled into thinking El Niño has forsaken us; it's coming, they swear! It's just late to the party, and some say it could be even bigger than originally anticipated.Ken Clark, a meteorologist with Accuweather.com told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that, "No, it hasn't gone away. It is still as strong as it ever was."
This year's El Niño appears to be conforming to the adage, "March goes in like a lion, and comes out like a lamb." Although, maybe it will go out like a lion, too.
Climatologists expect "a conveyor belt" of storms to hit Southern California by March, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. These storms could possibly hit the region going into April, too—about a month later than heavy rains were originally predicted.
"The ball game is not over yet. We do have a lot of innings left in the game," John Gottschalck, of the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center told the SGV Tribune. "We still have March."
Support for LAist comes from
Everyone's favorite quote machine El Niño expert and climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Bill Patzert said, "It is not unusual for El Niños, with regards to Southern California rain, to be slow starters...When they hook up, they are fast and furious finishers."
When they hook up, they are fast and furious finishers. Bless you, Bill Patzert.
Patzert also told the Union Tribune that just because we haven't seen destructive, intense rain in SoCal doesn't mean this El Niño hasn't impacted other parts of the state. Heavy rain storms are just one facet of the weather phenomenon—a facet that's easier to sensationalize than the decidedly unsexy notion of "heavy snow pack."
This El Nino is a failure only to Southern California journalists because they want to report on flooding in Mission Valley...The local news channels are irritated because they don’t have mudslides to report on. Don’t tell anyone in Northern and Central California that there hasn’t been a strong El Nino. They’ve been getting some real nice snow in the Sierras. That’s the best thing for San Diego and LA. The northern reservoirs are getting the water.
It's true. The Bay Area has seen some intense storms that have resulted in eroding cliffs and dangerous sinkholes. And ant invasions.
But according to Weather.com, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s latest forecast says that El Niño will weaken through the spring, and perhaps transition into a La Niña fall, which would mean colder ocean temperatures and drier conditions for California.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist