The statement "El Niño years tend to bring much less rain and snow to regions like California" is actually FALSE.
During El Niño years, California tends to experience increased precipitation, including more rain and snowfall. El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This warming of the ocean can lead to shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns, which often result in wetter conditions for California and other regions in the southern United States.
Therefore, in an El Niño year, California is more likely to see above-average rainfall and snowfall compared to normal years. This phenomenon can have various impacts on the region, including potential benefits for water resources and agriculture but also risks of flooding and landslides due to the increased precipitation.