EL NIÑO EFFECTS EXPECTED TO LINGER INTO SPRING
NOAA’s El Niño Diagnostic Discussion, released February 6, reports some weakening of El Niño during January 2003. Recent evolution of the Pacific Ocean temperatures near the equator, together with statistical and coupled model forecasts, indicate that El Niño will continue to weaken between February and April 2003. Near-normal sea surface temperatures should return to the equatorial Pacific during May through October 2003.
“Most of the U.S. has experienced El Niño’s typical impacts,” said Laver. Increased storm activity brought drought relief to many areas in the southern and eastern U.S. during the late fall and early winter. And, despite some recent colder air outbreaks, the 2002-03 winter has demonstrated the warmer and drier influences characteristic of El Niño in many parts of the northern U.S. While southern California has not experienced the wetter-than-average conditions associated with 70 percent of El Niño episodes, NOAA scientists note such precipitation has occurred typically from late January through early March. “It’s still a little soon to say that California won’t experience this impact,” said Laver. Differences in the distribution and strength of ocean temperature departures contribute to event-to-event variability in impacts. Continued oceanic and atmospheric research, and the development of improved climate models are necessary to improve predictions of El Niño impacts, Laver added. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation Diagnostic Discussion is a team effort consisting of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (lead), Climate Diagnostics Center, Geophysics Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Climatic Data Center, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center is one of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which is part of the NOAA National Weather Service. The Climate Prediction Center predicts and monitors El Niño and also produces the nation’s official long-range outlooks and medium-range weather forecasts. The NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce. Relevant
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