Wet Southeast and Gulf Coast

Overview

General Impacts of El Ni�o in the Southeastern US

In the Southeast, El Ni�o years tend to be colder than normal in the fall and winter and warmer than normal in the spring and summer. Research has shown a correlation between precipitation in the Southeast and the El Ni�o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon: the wet spring and flooding of 1994 and the droughts in 1988 are related to ENSO. In other words, El Ni�o years tend to be wetter than normal in the winter and spring and drier than normal during the summer.

During the 1982-83 El Ni�o, heavy rains and flooding occurred across the Gulf States. In New Orleans almost 75% of the city's streets were under water. Estimated damages for Mississippi and Louisiana were approximately $350 million. During April, more than 100,000 poultry and 1,000 cattle died as a result of storms. In May, 17% of the cotton crop was lost.

El Ni�o-related Economic and Environmental Impacts

Agriculture: Economic research shows that improved long-term forecasts of the ENSO phenomenon can result in economic benefits of $100-125 million per year to the agricultural sector in the southeastern U.S. The benefits occur when farmers make optimal planting, harvesting, and crop selection decisions based on predictions of the warm (El Ni�o), cold, and normal phases of ENSO. For example, during El Ni�o years, the above normal precipitation in the spring months in the Corpus Christi area results in higher crop yields.

Hurricanes: 1995 witnessed 19 Atlantic tropical storms, 11 of which attained hurricane status, making this the second (next to 1933) most active hurricane season since records began in 1871. During the El Ni�o of 1991-1992 and 1994-1995, persistent patterns of enhanced vertical wind shear and above-normal surface air pressure over the subtropical Atlantic inhibited tropical storm formation. With the demise of El Ni�o in the spring of 1995, these factors both decreased, creating an environment conducive to development of tropical storms and hurricanes.

Forest Management: A study by Florida State University found that due to wetter than normal conditions during an El Ni�o, the number of acres of forest burned decreases in south and central Florida from an average of 180,000 to 150,000 acres. This information allows forest managers to plan road openings, do controlled burns, stock supplies, and plan for seasonal help. The counties most affected are Broward, Collier, Dade, and Palm Beach. For more information see: http;/www.coaps.fsu.edu

Images

	Surface Data Graphs by Station(s) (Global Summary of the Day) by Climate Division
	Satellite Images Historical GOES Browse Server Satellite Active Archive (Lev 1b POES/DMSP DATA) Images/Movies of Hurricanes and Special Events SSM/I Monthly Image Products
	Radar Images NEXRAD National Mosaic Reflectivity Images

Data

Surface Data

by Station(s) (Global Summary of the Day - graph and then download)
by Station(s) (Weather observation forms)
by Climate Division (graph and then download)

Weather Observation Station Records

Historical Perspective

Maps from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center of temperature and precipitation during El Ni�o as compared to "average" years for the U.S. and for individual states, are available below.

U.S. Impacts During El Ni�o Events

ENSO Impacts on the US

Strong El Nino Impacts

Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation

Normal vs. El Ni�o - Average Precipitation and Temperature by State

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Louisiana

Mississippi

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Other Resources

California Flooding and Florida Tornadoes, February 1998
The El Ni�o Winter of '97 - '98
Climatic Extremes and Weather Events
Storm Data Publication
Climate Variations Bulletin
NOAA El Ni�o Web Page

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