dailyloe.com – Super El Niño is developing rapidly, affecting the upcoming hurricane season in the Atlantic and Pacific basins. Bryan Norcross, FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist, explains the potential impacts. Recent data indicates a significant transition to Super El Niño, which could suppress the Atlantic hurricane season and result in a wet winter for the southern U.S.
A 100% chance of a strong Super El Niño forming this year has been confirmed. Water temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean have risen to the 0.5 degrees Celsius threshold necessary for El Niño development. This phenomenon is expected to fully develop during the summer.
El Niño is known to increase upper-level wind shear in the Atlantic basin, creating a hostile environment for storm development. This typically reduces the overall number of tropical systems forming in that area. In contrast, the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, starting soon, is forecast to see increased tropical activity due to El Niño.
El Niño is one phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which describes temperature changes in the central Pacific Ocean. These changes can significantly influence global weather patterns. El Niño features warmer than average water across the equatorial Pacific, whereas La Niña is characterized by colder conditions.
During El Niño, above-average water temperatures lead to strong winds that impede tropical development in the Atlantic. This same warming enhances hurricane development in the Eastern Pacific. Computer models predict that this summer’s El Niño will likely be categorized as a Super El Niño, further impacting weather patterns.
