From The Boston Globe · · 1m 40s
Extreme El Niño Threatens Winter Weather
Record-breaking El Niño could reshape winter weather globally this season.
In brief
Record-breaking El Niño could reshape winter weather globally this season. This El Niño will be the strongest in 150 years, with sea surface temperatures reaching 4 degrees C above normal by December, potentially causing extreme weather worldwide. Originally reported by The Boston Globe.
El Niño's Unprecedented Warmth
The eastern Pacific Ocean is warming at record levels, with sea surface temperatures now 3.4 degrees Celsius above normal.
Breaking Historical Records
This El Niño will likely reach 4 degrees Celsius above normal by December, surpassing the 1877-78 event that peaked at 3.5 degrees.
Climate Scientist Warning
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, warns this extreme El Niño will have widespread global impacts.
El Niño Intensity Scale
El Niño strength is measured in half-degree increments, with 'Super' status at 2.0 degrees Celsius above normal.
Historical Super El Niños
Four Super El Niños have occurred since 1950: 1982-83, 1991-92, 1997-98, and 2.015-16.
NOAA's Forecast
NOAA predicts at least an 83% chance this El Niño will exceed previous records by year's end.
Subsurface Heat Concerns
Waters below the El Niño region are 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal, creating a heat reservoir that could sustain the event through 2027.
Climate Change Impact
Scientists use Relative Niño Indices to account for global warming when measuring El Niño strength.
Historical Weather Impacts
Past Super El Niños caused extreme weather: 1982-83 brought heavy rains to California, 1997-98 triggered ice storms in New England.
What Happens Next
This El Niño could cause extreme winter weather globally, with impacts on temperatures and storm patterns worldwide.
Here's the gist
This El Niño will be the strongest in 150 years, with sea surface temperatures reaching 4 degrees C above normal by December, potentially causing extreme weather worldwide.
