Effects of El Nino Expected to be Dramatic
Weather scientists now say this year’s “extreme” El Niño weather phenomenon is the strongest ever recorded, which could mean more abnormal winter weather for all of North America, the Delta Farm Press reported in December.
The seasonal forecast suggests that the West, which has suffered major drought in recent years, could see significant flooding, much of the Southwest could be colder than normal with bigger snowfalls, while large areas of the Mid-South and northeast will continue to see warmer than normal weather.
In the final days of 2015, a deadly tornado system devastated sections of Texas, a deluge of rain caused flooding in Missouri and Illinois, and southern states already overwhelmed by rainfall faced another round of severe storms.
An El Niño occurs when water temperatures in the eastern Pacific region become warmer than normal; even a slight variation can have a significant impact on weather around the world. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says temperatures at mid-November were the highest ever for the region.
The last strong El Niño, in 1997, brought a record number of Category 5 storms to the northwest Pacific, with two “super typhoons.” Peru and Ecuador were hit by the deadliest floods in history, India was devastated by floods. On the other extreme, severe drought affected Australia, the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa, and elsewhere, reported the Delta Farm Press.
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