NOAA scientists have concluded that the climate phenomenon El Niño has arrived.
Great. OK then. El Niño is here. But just what does that mean for those watching for Atlantic hurricanes?
According to the NOAA Website, “El Niño, the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters, occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months.” This particular El Niño is predicted to last through the winter of 2010.
“Contrary to popular belief, not all effects are negative. On the positive side,” according to NOAA, “El Niño can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity. In the United States, it typically brings beneficial winter precipitation to the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North, and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires.
“El Niño’s negative impacts have included damaging winter storms in California and increased storminess across the southern United States. Some past El Niños have also produced severe flooding and mudslides in Central and South America, and drought in Indonesia.”
In the USA Today article “El Nino 2 fuels more Atlantic hurricanes, warnings” by Doyle Rice of USA Today, there are some contrary indications to consider. According to Peter Webster of Georgia Tech’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, ”This new type is resulting in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency and more potential to make landfall.”
As with any weather forecast information, and the debate as to its validity, this info is a great staring point for an emergency preparedness discussion. If you live in an area under threat from hurricanes, are you ready with your personal hurricane plan? Do you have your preparedness gear ready to go?
Don’t worry about El Niño and what it may or may not mean to you. Focus on your plan, your emergency first aid kit and your local weather forecast.
Of course, you can always choose to spend the forecasted hurricane season a couple of miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas.
MORE 2 EXPLORE
NOAA
USA Today
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NOAA: El Niño arrives; could suppress Atlantic hurricane season
NOAA scientists have concluded that the climate phenomenon El Niño has arrived.
Great. OK then. El Niño is here. But just what does that mean for those watching for Atlantic hurricanes?
According to the NOAA Website, “El Niño, the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters, occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months.” This particular El Niño is predicted to last through the winter of 2010.
“Contrary to popular belief, not all effects are negative. On the positive side,” according to NOAA, “El Niño can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity. In the United States, it typically brings beneficial winter precipitation to the arid Southwest, less wintry weather across the North, and a reduced risk of Florida wildfires.
“El Niño’s negative impacts have included damaging winter storms in California and increased storminess across the southern United States. Some past El Niños have also produced severe flooding and mudslides in Central and South America, and drought in Indonesia.”
In the USA Today article “El Nino 2 fuels more Atlantic hurricanes, warnings” by Doyle Rice of USA Today, there are some contrary indications to consider. According to Peter Webster of Georgia Tech’s School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, ”This new type is resulting in a greater number of hurricanes with greater frequency and more potential to make landfall.”
As with any weather forecast information, and the debate as to its validity, this info is a great staring point for an emergency preparedness discussion. If you live in an area under threat from hurricanes, are you ready with your personal hurricane plan? Do you have your preparedness gear ready to go?
Don’t worry about El Niño and what it may or may not mean to you. Focus on your plan, your emergency first aid kit and your local weather forecast.
Of course, you can always choose to spend the forecasted hurricane season a couple of miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas.
MORE 2 EXPLORE
NOAA
USA Today