KXTV-TV - Online (October 17, 2014) - "Complete drought recovery in California this winter is highly unlikely," NOAA's Climate Prediction Center Interim Director Mike Halpert said. "While we're predicting at least a two in three chance that winter precipitation will be near or above normal throughout the state, with such widespread, extreme deficits, recovery will be slow." UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences Director Jay Lund said even though an El Nino may be likely this winter, 50 years of records show an El Nino event does not guarantee extra water for Northern California in any given year. He said groundwater is also perilously low for agriculture and many households that depend on wells.