El Nino appears to be weakening rapidly. 1/19
Since the fall of 2006, global weather patterns have been influenced, at least in part, by El Niño. This phenomenon of warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperatures quickly sprang to life last year, but now seems to be weakening at a rapid rate
The latest sea-surface temperature data now indicates that El Niño is weakening. Droughts in Australia, Indonesia and Micronesia that are usually typical of this warm-water phenomenon are being replaced by flood-inducing rains, an indication that El Niño is on its way out.
Many scientists claim that El Niño will dissipate completely within several months and could be replaced by a new La Niña, the abnormal cooling of sea-surface temperatures off the west coast of South America, sometime this year. Based on the fact that we've seen several El Niños and La Niñas within the last five years, I would also expect to see that cooler-than-normal sea-surface temperature event evolve perhaps as early as our summer season. Prior to the late 1990s, we would experience an El Niño approximately every seven years.
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Hopes for El Niño rain dry up as Southland turns into tinderbox
BY DANA BARTHOLOMEW, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/16/2007 10:39:41 PM PST
With rainfall just 25 percent of normal and El Niño unexpectedly weakening this month, weather forecasters say Southern California may face its driest winter on record.
Howling winds have pushed into the traditional wet season, wicking moisture from hillside brush to critically dry levels and raising fears of a disastrous fire season.
Despite recent frigid temperatures, the National Weather Service has maintained its red-flag warnings, Canadian SuperScoopers have prolonged their stay, and Los Angeles area fire departments remain on heightened alert.
"El Niño was our last hope," said Bill Patzert, climatologist for the Pasadena-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"The deeper and drier we get into
this, the weakening El Niño enhances the probability for one of the driest winters in history." >> |
