The glorious weather was welcomed, but as the sun continues to shine this week, many in drought-stricken California are beginning to ask, "Where's El Niño?"
"El Nino is still here," Bay Area meteorologist Jan Null said. "We typically see some warm weather in February. There's all this panic that I'm hearing. This is just one of those periodic nice spells that we typically get in the middle of winter."
National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said the proof is in the ocean temperature. "Water temps around the equatorial Pacific are still three degrees above normal," Anderson explained. "That means El Niño is still here."
More rain is on the way, with the next storms expected to hit next Wednesday and Thursday. Beyond that, forecasters can't predict exactly what will happen.
"The rainy weather patterns associated with El Niño have shifted," Null explained. "Right now, we have a ridge over the West Coast. That will undoubtedly change.
"The big question is how much will it change when we get into the second half of February and into March? That we really don't know.
"If anyone tells you they know what will happen they're pulling your leg."
That said, Anderson says the National Weather Service can predict whether overall rain for the season will be above or below normal, and he says all forecasts says that by the time the rainy season ends in September we should be above normal.
"Any chance you get to enjoy some sunny warm weather you got to get on it because it probably won't last long," Anderson advised. "Spread your blanket out at the park or beach."
