I had a feeling there was an El Nino forming. Having looked at the ocean temperatures about 6-8 weeks ago off the coast of Peru and Tropical Pacific, the sea surface temps did seem a bit “mild”. Well an article that appeared on Yahoo earlier today (see below) suggests that warming of the waters off the coast of Peru are up and this event could last through the winter of 2009-2010.
The one good thing about an El Nino season is that Hurricane development across the eastern Atlantic will be down this year. Chances are when the NHC/NOAA and others issue their next update on the Hurricane season, I would expect to see a reduction in the total amount of tropical cyclones across the Atlantic basin for the 2009 season.
We still note a stronger than normal high pressure ridge pattern and this will tend to keep upper level shear high across the Tropical Atlantic and this alone should help reduce the risk of Hurricane activity. The US west coast should see an increase in rain and storms this winter which should make for interesting traveling to/from Seattle and the Baja Peninsula.
The article starts below. It’s good reading and worth it. Stay tuned.
Government scientists said Thursday that the periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which can affect weather around the world, has returned.
The Pacific had been in what is called a neutral state, but forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the sea surface temperature climbed to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal along a narrow band in the eastern equatorial Pacific in June.
In addition, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said temperatures in other tropical regions are also above normal, with warmer than usual readings as much as 975 feet below the ocean surface.
In general, El Nino conditions are associated with increased rainfall across the east-central and eastern Pacific and with drier than normal conditions over northern Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
A summer El Nino can lead to wetter than normal conditions in the intermountain regions of the United States and over central Chile. In an El Nino year there tend to be more Eastern Pacific hurricanes and fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
The forecasters said they expect this El Nino to continue strengthening over the next few months and to last through the winter of 2009-2010.
“Advanced climate science allows us to alert industries, governments and emergency managers about the weather conditions El Nino may bring so these can be factored into decision-making and ultimately protect life, property and the economy,” NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said in a statement.
NOAA officials noted that not all El Nino effects are negative. For example, it can suppress Atlantic hurricanes and bring needed moisture to the arid Southwest.
But it can also steer damaging winter storms to California and increase storminess across the southern United States.
The warming of the ocean can also lead to a reduction in the seafood catch off the West Coast, and fewer fish can also impact food sources for several types of birds and marine mammals.
A recent study by researchers at Georgia Tech suggests there may actually be two forms of El Nino, depending on whether the warming is stronger in the eastern or central pacific.
While the current warming seems to be strongest in the east, the more traditional form, government forecasters did not categorize it.
If the Georgia Tech study is correct, this would be the type of El Nino that reduces hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The other form, centered farther west, reportedly seems to promote Atlantic storms.
The one good thing about an El Nino season is that Hurricane development across the eastern Atlantic will be down this year. Chances are when the NHC/NOAA and others issue their next update on the Hurricane season, I would expect to see a reduction in the total amount of tropical cyclones across the Atlantic basin for the 2009 season.
We still note a stronger than normal high pressure ridge pattern and this will tend to keep upper level shear high across the Tropical Atlantic and this alone should help reduce the risk of Hurricane activity. The US west coast should see an increase in rain and storms this winter which should make for interesting traveling to/from Seattle and the Baja Peninsula.
The article starts below. It’s good reading and worth it. Stay tuned.
Government scientists said Thursday that the periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which can affect weather around the world, has returned.
The Pacific had been in what is called a neutral state, but forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the sea surface temperature climbed to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit above normal along a narrow band in the eastern equatorial Pacific in June.
In addition, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said temperatures in other tropical regions are also above normal, with warmer than usual readings as much as 975 feet below the ocean surface.
In general, El Nino conditions are associated with increased rainfall across the east-central and eastern Pacific and with drier than normal conditions over northern Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
A summer El Nino can lead to wetter than normal conditions in the intermountain regions of the United States and over central Chile. In an El Nino year there tend to be more Eastern Pacific hurricanes and fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
The forecasters said they expect this El Nino to continue strengthening over the next few months and to last through the winter of 2009-2010.
“Advanced climate science allows us to alert industries, governments and emergency managers about the weather conditions El Nino may bring so these can be factored into decision-making and ultimately protect life, property and the economy,” NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said in a statement.
NOAA officials noted that not all El Nino effects are negative. For example, it can suppress Atlantic hurricanes and bring needed moisture to the arid Southwest.
But it can also steer damaging winter storms to California and increase storminess across the southern United States.
The warming of the ocean can also lead to a reduction in the seafood catch off the West Coast, and fewer fish can also impact food sources for several types of birds and marine mammals.
A recent study by researchers at Georgia Tech suggests there may actually be two forms of El Nino, depending on whether the warming is stronger in the eastern or central pacific.
While the current warming seems to be strongest in the east, the more traditional form, government forecasters did not categorize it.
If the Georgia Tech study is correct, this would be the type of El Nino that reduces hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The other form, centered farther west, reportedly seems to promote Atlantic storms.