A "Godzilla El Nino" Is Coming For California

The El Niño weather system expected to hit the West Coast of the United States is going to be even more extreme than previously predicted -- but even with massive rainfall and a potentially rough winter ahead, it's unlikely to reverse drought conditions that have existed in California for four years, according to Federal forecasts (via KTLA).

"We're predicting that this El Niño could be among the strongest El Niños in the historical record dating back to 1950," said Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

Still, he cautioned, "Just because something is favored, it doesn't guarantee it will happen. And more importantly for California … one season of above normal rain and snow is very unlikely to erase four years of drought."