NASA - Pacific El Nino Is Back - Additional Strenghtening Likely, Will Last Through Mid-2010 - AFP

[hatrack]

US scientists on Thursday said that the El Nino warming trend of the Pacific Ocean waters has returned, bringing with it almost certain changes in weather patterns around the world.

The El Nino climatological effect -- the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters -- occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement that the current El Nino was likely to develop further during the next several months, with additional strengthening possible and is expected to last through early 2010.

In past years, El Nino has been known to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity and typically brings beneficial winter rain to the arid US southwest. But the weather system also often brings damaging winter storms in California and turbulent weather across the southern United States.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2007/090709175829.b8vo0uzx.html

[Auggie]

1. We'll welcome the rain in California in any form and shape.

[pscot]

5. The Northwest doesn't fare as well

We tend to dry out.

[madrchsod]

2. does this mean the midwest can finally dry out?

i sure hope so......

[hatrack]

4. Not just us, either - driving through Wyoming & South Dakota this week . . . .

Stunned by the amount of standing water everywhere.

[NickB79]

9. And right across the border in MN, we're 6" below average for precipitation so far this year

Bone-dry throughout the Twin Cities. Go figure :shrug:

[XemaSab]

11. You weren't going to Devil's Tower, were you?

[kestrel91316]

3. Well, we definitely need the rain here.......

[kali3]

6. Again?

It seems like we are getting these systems every year! What gives?

[The Croquist]

8. Not every year

It is a perfectly natural occurrence. The second half of 2007 through about the second half of 2008 (from memory) was a La Nina year. I wouldn't worry too much.

From Wikipedia:

El Niños have occurred in 1986-1987, 1991-1992, 1993, 1994, 1997-1998, 2002-2003, 2004-2005 and 2006-2007.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. This must explain why Alaska is having such a wonderful warm summer

compared to last year's dud.

[excess_3]

10. the very busy Atlantic hurricane season, slogs on

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

[The Croquist]

12. Don't claim victory too soon...

"The hen is the wisest of all the animal creation because she never cackles until after the egg has been laid."
Abraham Lincoln, 1863

There is a long way to go in hurricane season.