Weather forecasters got it right when they predicted an El Nino for this winter – as the region is already well ahead of the normal rainfall totals as well as surpassing the total amount received all of last winter. Pounding rain and high winds pelted Escalon and the surrounding area late Monday on in to Tuesday, and weather watchers had reported over an inch and a half of rain in the area on Monday, Jan. 18 and over an inch and a quarter more accumulating by noontime Tuesday. The National Weather Service had issued a Flood and Wind Advisory for the region, calling for the possibility of urban and small stream flooding in areas including San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Calaveras counties, as well as the potential for mud and rockslides in the foothills.