The Los Angeles Times reports that first of three "El Niño-related storms" produced rain and fender benders but no flooding or serious injuries in the Los Angeles area. The rainfall (0.28 of an inch of rain at the Civic Center) brought the annual total to date to 0.73 of an inch, still half of the normal expected rainfall. The "Pineapple Express", periodic pulses of tropical moisture, is expected to begin next month, producing the heavy rains characteristic of ENSO events.