Unfortunately, northern Calif typically has a smaller chance for above-normal winter rainfall than central and southern Calif during El Nino. But the very strongest ones, such as 1982-83 and 1997-98, do bring excess rainfall as far north as northern Calif and even Oregon. This El Nino might be as strong as these, at least the 1982-83 event. The official forecast for Dec-Feb and Jan-Mar 2016 from Climate Prediction Center calls for just a very slight increase in the odds for above-normal rainfall for northern California. I wish you would get some good rains in the next 6 months. There is some hope.