California Droughts (Updated)

The Daily Mail:

California is experiencing its worst drought since 1895 with no signs of it abating due to a stubborn ridge of high pressure that is lurking offshore and blocking typical winter weather.

Nearly four miles high and 2,000 miles long, it is to blame for the emerging drought as the mass of high air pressure has been blocking Pacific winter storms from coming ashore and bringing much needed to bring [sic] rain to the parched West Coast. 

The duration of the upper-level ridge of high pressure anchored off its north coast - since December 2012 - is unprecedented in modern weather records and puzzling researchers.

Well, I'm sure that it is being blamed on global warming by many, but I believe it has another source. In Deuteronomy 11:16-17, the Lord warns the ancient Israelites:

16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; 

17 And then the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.

 Similarly, in 1 Kings 8:35 it notes:

When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:

 There are numerous other instances where the scriptures record unusual droughts intended to punish the wicked and prompt the people to repent.

Updated: CBS San Francisco has interviewed Lynn Ingram, professor of paleoclimatology at U.C. Berkeley, who has indicated that this may be the worst drought in 500 years, and could be the start of a several decade long dry spell.