As Australia’s El Niño Period Ends, Australian Snow Fields are Potentially Facing Rare La Niña & Positive IOD Winter The Australian Bureau of Meteorology announced on April 16 that the El Niño period has officially come to an end and the country is back in neutral ENSO territory. Climate models indicate that ENSO — the El Niño–Southern Oscillation — will stay neutral until approximately July 2024 with a possibility of moving into La Niña territory during the Southern Hemisphere […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | April 18, 2024 0 Comments
February 2024 ENSO Outlook: 55% Chance El Niño Transitions to La Niña in Summer On a brisk early February morning, all of us El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecasters emerged from our burrows and saw our shadows. That can mean only one thing: conditions are favorable for the development of La Niña within the next six months. Yes, the February ENSO Outlook officially announces that we are in a La Niña Watch, even while, at […] Weather WeatherBrains | February 8, 2024 0 Comments
Mt. Baker, WA, Cancels Legendary Banked Slalom Event Due to El Niño The 36th annual Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom snowboarding competition, set to take place this coming weekend, has been canceled. This is truly a shame as Mt. Baker, Washington, was one of the first ski areas to embrace snowboarders, and this event is paramount to the resort’s admired place in snowboarding culture. The event consists of a timed run through […] Industry News Brent Thomas | February 5, 2024 0 Comments
NOAA ENSO January 2024 Update: El Niño Reaching Peak Strength | 60% Chance of La Niña in Late-Summer/Fall El Niño is very likely close to peak strength and is likely to continue for the next few months while gradually weakening. Despite the expected weakening of El Niño’s tropical Pacific sea surface signature, impacts to global climate will continue for the next few months. Forecasters currently expect ENSO-neutral conditions (ENSO = El Niño/Southern Oscillation, the whole El Niño & […] Weather WeatherBrains | January 12, 2024 0 Comments
NOAA ENSO Update December 2023: 54% Chance El Niño Will be “Historically Strong” in Top 5 on Record El Niño is zipping along in the tropical Pacific. There’s a 54% chance that this El Niño event will end up “historically strong” (more details below), potentially ranking in the top 5 on record. Looking ahead, it’s likely that El Niño will end and neutral conditions return by April–June. Sail across the Pacific El Niño is associated with specific changes […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 14, 2023 0 Comments
NOAA ENSO Blog: How Does El Niño Influence Snowfall Over the United States? After the last three winters of La Niña conditions (weren’t we all ready for a change!), the tropical Pacific is looking much different this year, with a strong El Niño likely this winter (1). Historically, how has El Niño shaped precipitation (rainfall + snowfall) over the U.S.? Let’s dig in and find out! Related: SnowBrains Forecast: Colorado to Get Hammered This Weekend – 2+ FEET […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 1, 2023 0 Comments
NOAA ENSO November 2023 Update: This Winter’s El Niño is Officially a Strong Event El Niño is currently chugging along, and forecasters expect it to continue for the next several months, with a 62% chance of lasting through April–June 2024. Since we’re heading into the winter, when El Niño’s effect on Northern Hemisphere temperature and rain/snow is most distinct, today we’ll drive by some of El Niño’s wide-ranging impacts. On rails First stop—this El […] Weather WeatherBrains | November 10, 2023 0 Comments
S(no)w Pain, S(no)w Gain: How Does El Niño Affect Snowfall Over North America? This article originally appeared on climate.gov Note: The primary writer of this post is Michelle L’Heureux, but it is inspired by and reviewed by Brian Brettschneider, who is the NWS Climate Service Program manager for the Alaska region. The last several winters have been depressingly bleak for snow lovers in the Washington, D.C. area, where we at the Climate Prediction […] Weather WeatherBrains | October 27, 2023 0 Comments