Alan Smith predicts a 'super' El Niño will bring record-setting ocean temperatures and significant weather shifts across the United States.
Meteorologist Alan Smith reports that the current El Niño cycle is entering a 'super' phase, characterized by ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean reaching record territory. This climate pattern is expected to produce a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter, with a 90% chance of a very strong event occurring. The administration announced that the combination of a massive marine heatwave and this super El Niño will have profound effects on US weather. In California, the warmer coastal waters are expected to cause more storm surges, flooding, and mudslides. While the West Coast may see above-average snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, the overall winter may trend warmer. In the northern U.S. and Canada, the combined impact of the marine heatwave and El Niño may reduce snowfall, potentially leading to more rain at higher elevations. Across the southern U.S., the super El Niño is expected to bring wetter-than-average conditions to the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Conversely, the Northern Plains and Northwest will likely experience an unseasonably warm and dry fall. These conditions are likely to be driven by the other ocean warming trends and the persistent high-pressure ridges over the northern half of the country.
Sources
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El Niño Forecast Is ‘Off the Charts.’ What Could This Mean for Ski Season?
KQED
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Strengthening El Niño could shake up fall weather across the US - here’s what to expect
FOX Weather
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Two giant warming patterns are brewing in the Pacific and warping US weather
BBC