Forecasters are predicting a record setting El Nino
for California this fall. The waters of the Eastern Pacific are heating
up and the steady build-up signals a strong El Nino event this fall,
with some calling it a Super El Nino.
Meteorologists say it's the second strongest on record for this time of year and could be one of the most potent weather changers of the past 65 years.
California desperately needs rain but El Nino could cause too much rain too soon, producing mudslides and floods.
"This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla of El Nino," NASA Climatologist Bill Patzert said.
Meteorologists say it's the second strongest on record for this time of year and could be one of the most potent weather changers of the past 65 years.
California desperately needs rain but El Nino could cause too much rain too soon, producing mudslides and floods.
"This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla of El Nino," NASA Climatologist Bill Patzert said.
El Nino is a weather pattern that can have an impact
around the world. In the U.S it usually means heavier than normal
winter rain in California and much of the south and east.
"That classic pattern of El Nino where warm water pools off the west coast of South America will shift the jet streams that bring storm tracks in the winter time to southern California and the desert southwest a little further north, bringing some much needed rain and snow pack for that region," NASA Scientist Doug Morton said.
"That classic pattern of El Nino where warm water pools off the west coast of South America will shift the jet streams that bring storm tracks in the winter time to southern California and the desert southwest a little further north, bringing some much needed rain and snow pack for that region," NASA Scientist Doug Morton said.
That could mean good news - and bad news - for drought-stricken California.
It's so dry in the state they have placed 96 million
plastic balls in the states reservoirs to block the sun, hoping to save
300 million gallons from evaporation.
the drought is also fueling lots of wildfires...
"California and northern California particularly are seeing a particularly bad fire season this year, based on drought conditons," Morton added.
"California and northern California particularly are seeing a particularly bad fire season this year, based on drought conditons," Morton added.
With the fires burning up California's vegetation,
NASA says if this El Nino lives up to its potential it could bring a lot
of floods, mudslides and mayhem.
Some say even if El Nino happens, it doesn't
guarantee the rain and snow needed to ease the current drought problems.
The state would need one-and-a-half times its normal rainfall to get to
end the dry season...
"El Nino only increases the probabilities of seeing at or slightly above precipitation. It doesn't mean it's going to be a state wide, two year deficit breaking rainfall," Morton said.
"El Nino only increases the probabilities of seeing at or slightly above precipitation. It doesn't mean it's going to be a state wide, two year deficit breaking rainfall," Morton said.
In the meantime, after four years of dry weather,
southern Californians are keeping their fingers crossed that El Nino
saves the day.
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