A recent Wired magazine article titled "El Nino Will Be Big, But It Probably Won’t Kill the Drought," discusses all the possible ways El Nino could fail in helping ease the pain of the Californian drought. Only quickly mentioning India's crippling monsoon season, the article focuses on the effects of various forms of rainfall in the West. The contributors see rain coming too late to help with any wildfires as a great concern since the Californian wildfire season only usually begins with the Santa Ana winds rolling in. Further, rainfall may not reach far enough north to aid the pacific northwest fires at all. The rainfall may even be so far south that it would fail to fill many important reservoirs. The article concludes on the fact that predicting rainfall is difficult and inexact.
With such a dismal look at the coming winter, many readers may feel disappointed with such a prescription for ineffective rainfall. The article fails to look at the good of any rain at all. The cliched adage, "beggars can't be choosers" reigns true in this matter. Any rainfall whether it be an average amount or above average will aid in alleviating California's drought in some way. Looking purely at California, any rain at all should spark a joyous feeling that envelops the state. These scientists who seem to be disappointed with anything less than all reservoirs being 100% full and wildfires being completely alleviated must realize the misery in which many Californians now live. An uptick in rain and any sort of break from this formidable drought should be received graciously and we, as Californians should praise whatever entity we believe controls the heavens above.
Original WIRED Article (link)
With such a dismal look at the coming winter, many readers may feel disappointed with such a prescription for ineffective rainfall. The article fails to look at the good of any rain at all. The cliched adage, "beggars can't be choosers" reigns true in this matter. Any rainfall whether it be an average amount or above average will aid in alleviating California's drought in some way. Looking purely at California, any rain at all should spark a joyous feeling that envelops the state. These scientists who seem to be disappointed with anything less than all reservoirs being 100% full and wildfires being completely alleviated must realize the misery in which many Californians now live. An uptick in rain and any sort of break from this formidable drought should be received graciously and we, as Californians should praise whatever entity we believe controls the heavens above.
Original WIRED Article (link)