I must admit, I had not heard such a hyperbolic claim, if it was...

I must admit, I had not heard such a hyperbolic claim, if it was that and not delusional hysteria...

Regardless, I had expected a dry, hot summer.

Not because of a warming climate (which I would have expected to increase rainfall due to increased evaporation - though I am no climate scientist...).

I had expected it due to the ElNino, which I was of the understanding is a well established, and understood, weather pattern.