… Strong El Niños, despite oftentimes offering more precipitation for California, also carry with them warmer temperatures thanks to a warmer Pacific Ocean to the west. The increased warmth of the sea will mean the difference between rain and snow in many locations, especially in Northern California where the warmth looks to be more pronounced. Increased temperatures will push the rain-snow line higher in the mountains than normal. That could be felt in a few months time as less snow sticking the foothills. That being accounted for, a strong signal for more snow still emerges in the models at altitude. … This is especially true for the Sierra and North Coast ranges, where extra snowfall could come in the form of significantly higher-than-normal totals in the high peaks.

Other El Niño news:

• KBAK (Bakersfield, Calif.): Potentially historic El Niño could impact Kern County this fall and winter
• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): A monster El Nino Could be one of the wettest Northern California has ever seen
• SFGate: Climate scientists warn El Niño may bring tallest-ever seas to California
• LAist: With a strong El Niño expected in SoCal, should you consider flood insurance?
• Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver, Colo.): ‘Silt happens’: Mudslides may continue if El Niño muddies Colorado’s forecast
• East Bay Times: Opinion: Why California’s next El Niño won’t end the state’s water challenges