NOAA
2002-118 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carmeyia Gillis 9/12/02 |
NOAA
News Releases 2002 NOAA Home Page NOAA Public Affairs |
EL NIÑO TO PLAY ROLE IN NATION’S FALL, WINTER WEATHER, NOAA SAYS After months of developing in the tropical Pacific Ocean, El Niño is poised to influence fall and winter weather across the United States, NOAA’s top climate experts said today. The El Niño influence will be weaker than the very strong 1997-98 version, but will still impact temperature and precipitation patterns. At a news conference in Washington, D.C., NOAA officials released the nation's official fall and winter outlooks, which reflect the ongoing El Niño. “El Niño will likely influence the fall and winter weather patterns,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The El Niño conditions that have persisted for months will be at moderate strength through the end of 2002 and into early 2003.” El Niño’s Impact On 2002-03 Fall, Winter With nearly half of the United States experiencing drought, the fall/winter outlook only offers “limited relief,” said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack Kelly, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. “While some improvement in the drought is possible, namely across the Southwest and southern and central Plains states, it may not be enough to alleviate dry conditions entirely, particularly in the Northwest, Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and the Ohio Valley.” Overall, Kelly said
forecasters expect El Niño’s fall
and winter
impacts to include: Jim Laver, director of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, the section of the National Weather Service that produced the fall/winter outlook and tracks El Niño, said the agency’s commitment to research and technology helped forecasters. “We’ve had our eyes on this El Niño for months, and understand it well enough to predict its likely climate impacts months in advance,” he said. Across the nation, the 2002 Fall outlook includes:
The 2002/03 Winter outlook includes:
NOAA will continue to issue monthly updates to the 2002-03 winter outlook. The Climate Prediction Center is one of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which is a part of NOAA’s National Weather Service. NOAA's National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories and 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. |