NOAA ISSUES FIRST EXPERIMENTAL
EASTERN PACIFIC HURRICANE OUTLOOK
Similar to the Atlantic hurricane season, one of the major factors in eastern Pacific hurricane development is the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate phenomenon (El Niño/ La Niña). This month, NOAA scientists continued to report the dominant trend is for cooling in the tropical Pacific to continue and for La Niña to develop during summer 2003. “If La Niña develops as expected this would have an impact on the eastern Pacific hurricane season,” said Jim Laver, director of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. “Typically La Niña has the opposite effect on the eastern Pacific hurricane season than it does on the Atlantic hurricane season.” “La Niña tends to suppress Pacific hurricane development in contrast to increasing Atlantic hurricane activity,” said Muthuvel Chelliah of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. “The expected activity is based on a 70 percent likelihood La Niña conditions will develop during the next few months, combined with the overall reduced hurricane activity observed since 1995.” This is the first year NOAA has issued an experimental outlook for the tropical Eastern Pacific region. This outlook covers the tropical North Pacific east of 140 degrees west longitude. Unlike the Atlantic Hurricane season outlook, NOAA does not plan an August update for this outlook.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins on May 15 and ends on Nov. 30. The peak of the season runs from July 1 through Sept. 30. NOAA’s Experimental hurricane outlook for the eastern Pacific region is expected to become official beginning with the 2005 season. The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Outlook is a product of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, NOAA Hurricane Research Division and the NOAA National Hurricane Center. 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 the nation�s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Relevant Web Sites NOAA Central Pacific Hurricane Center NOAA Climate Prediction Center Media
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