"The interhemispheric teleconnection that we have discovered promises earlier and more accurate prediction of winter precipitation in California and the southwestern U.S.," Efi Foufoula-Georgiou, University of California, Irvine Distinguished Professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-author of the study, said in a release. … "Knowing how much rain to expect in the coming winter is crucial for the economy, water security and ecosystem management of the region," Foufoula-Georgiou said in the release.