Jeff Berardelli, Chief Meteorologist of WFLA, Tampa, has posted some useful graphs showing the comparison between storm activity in El Nino years (like the one we are just coming out of) and the complimentary opposite cycle La Nina years, which meteorologists see developing this summer.
In El Nino years, a tendency for upper level wind shear, destructive currents that tear apart storms, has a dampening effect on hurricane development in the Atlantic Basin. Even so, last summer was a very active year for storms, owing in large part to very warm sea surface temperatures.
This summer, those temps remain very warm, but the wind shear is projected to go away.
Hilarity will no doubt ensue.
Is it a bit crazy to have 4 la Nina’s (if it comes about in 5 years?
Or maybe we are just better at detecting it?
Thanks!
Brian
Now that we’ve broken the Arctic and subsequently the Northern Hemisphere jet stream why wouldn’t it be plausible that we get a big shift in El Niño:La Niña ratios.
All bets are off.