The weather phenomenon El Nino is expected to provide the Golden State with drought relief early next year, Bloomberg reports, but weather experts are saying that it would be much more effective if that could happen right now.

“If we can get some snow on the ground and some cold nights, it will set up the snowpack and get cool air pooling,” said California State Climatologist Mike Anderson to the news service.

California really needs snow, not rain, Bloomberg notes. Snow can stay in the mountains until spring, eventually providing runoff.

The state is currently in its fourth year of drought. Read more about the need for snow at Bloomberg.