The return of the El-Niño has been announced by climatologists after a gap of 5 years. Nonetheless, this Pacific Ocean circulation phenomenon is not predicted to offer any assistance to drought-ridden California and the western region of the United States. The deputy director of the Climate Prediction Centre at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Mike Halpert has states that “Sadly, this El Niño is likely too little, too late and too weak to give much relief to drought stricken California, as California’s rainy season is slowing down.”
According to NOAA, which also administers the National Weather Service has declared that they have detected a weak El-Niño phase in the cyclical oscillation of sea water temperature and atmospheric pressure in the tropical Pacific. Given the fact that in previous years El- Niño has assisted in conveying more humidity in the direction of Southern California, the effect it has on regional weather has always been a matter of argument.
The Pacific Coast has been experiencing more storms in December and January but still a greater part of this couldn’t add much to the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and additional western regions that is the most vital ingredient of long-term supply of water.
Halpert stated that “This previous year, December was extremely wet; however it was also very warm. So the snow levels were high and it truly didn’t help.”
According to the agency, the perseverance of the El-Niño diving into the summer has only about 50% to 60% probability.
Haplert also said “If you want to look for hope, possibly there’s some hope that this will continue and impact the following rainy season, however I think it’s very late to do much for you this year.”
NOAA was monitoring an increase in the sea surface temperatures in regions of the Central Pacific for months which is a clear indication of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, although this was not ushered with an elevated convection on the lower atmosphere, generally responsible for thunderstorms and weakening surface trade winds.
A strong El Niño usually represents a greater than average rainfall along Mexico and southern U.S. and some regions of the Midwest and New England. The agency reports that some localized rainfall inconsistency were observed in the early winters inclusive of the Northeast’s snowstorms but still the ideal features of a full-fledged El Niño effect has not been seen.
