NOAA Unveils New Alert System for La Niña and El NiñoLa Niña Likely to Continue into SpringFebruary 5, 2009
Pacific Sea Surface Temperature Animation (Nov. 12, 2008 to Jan. 28, 2009). High resolution (Credit: NOAA) NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center
today issued the first La Niña advisory under its new El Niño Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) Alert System. Forecasters expect La Niña to influence
weather patterns across the United States during the remainder of the
winter and into the early spring. “The typical weather patterns associated with La Niña and El Niño affect many industries including agriculture, transportation, energy, shipping and construction,” said Michael S. Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center. “The ENSO Alert System will succinctly inform industry, government agencies, academia and the public about the onset and status of La Niña and El Niño. This system will also help decision makers plan for the potential effects presented by these conditions.” La Niña conditions have been present since late December, but it is too early to say exactly how strong the event will be and precisely how long it will last. However, for the next few months La Niña is expected to bring milder and drier than average conditions to the southeastern and southwestern states. It is also expected to bring wetter-than-average conditions to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, and cooler than average temperatures to the Pacific Northwest. The new ENSO alert system includes La Niña and El Niño watches and advisories which the Climate Prediction Center will issue when specific conditions exist.
These watches and advisories are now part of the ENSO Diagnostic Discussion, which is issued by the Climate Prediction Center on the Thursday falling between the 5th and 11th of every month. It is available |