California could be on the verge of another winter of wild weather — ranging from massive rainstorms to potential flooding. After months of the Pacific Ocean heating up, scientists say a massive climate shift is officially underway.
Yesterday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters said that “El Niño” is “predicted to intensify to a moderate or strong level this fall”. According to their predictions, there is a 63% chance that this event will cross the threshold into a “very strong”— or what many are calling a “Super El Niño”— status by late fall and winter. If it reaches this level, it could rank among the most intense climate disruptions recorded in the last several decades.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a massive climate shift triggered by a warming of the Pacific Ocean. When normal tropical trade winds weaken, a colossal pool of warm water surges eastward toward the Americas. This shift acts like a giant roadblock in the atmosphere, completely rerouting the global jet stream and forcing dramatic weather extremes worldwide.
How could a ‘super’ El Niño impact California’s weather?
As reported by KTLA, the United Nations recently issued an urgent warning telling people to brace for an extra-hot summer. A strong event typically tilts the odds toward several major impacts for California:
- Heavy Rain & Snow: While the northern part of the U.S. usually stays warmer and drier, the southern half of the country — including Central and Southern California — can expect a much wetter winter with increased rain and mountain snow.
- High-Tide Flooding: High-tide flooding may become a much bigger problem during El Niño years, particularly along the California coast where rising, warmer waters push higher onto the shore.
- As the NOAA has explained, past El Niño episodes have also enhanced the formation of harmful algal blooms along the U.S West Coast.
A stronger El Niño doesn’t automatically mean California will get hit by historic disasters; rather, it just makes those typical wet conditions much more likely to happen. L.A. could be due for a winter that requires dusting off your heavy-duty umbrella!
