A high-pressure system is chasing El Niño storms away from Southern California, shrinking the region’s chances for a winter wet enough to ease the drought. The same system has been blocking Pacific rainstorms from California for several years, National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Stachelski said.

 

“It moves around slightly, but overall it’s been there most of the winter. It’s generally the same pattern we’ve seen in the last few winters, which is why we’re in such a severe drought,” Stachelski said Tuesday.