Southern California has experienced a record-breaking wet start to the rainy season, contradicting typical La Niña patterns.

Californians can be excused for being confused about the weather forecast.

Scientists in October said La Niña had arrived, which many associate with dry conditions, particularly in the Southland.

But we have instead experienced a very wet season — at least so far — with rain bringing much-needed moisture to the brush, likely putting an end to the autumn fire season, and helping to keep the state’s reservoirs in good shape.

So what is going on?

It is still true that La Niña tends to correlate with dry water years, which the National Weather Service defines as from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

During La Niña , the sea surface temperatures of the central and eastern Pac

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