By Mary Hightower
El Niño is still driving the weather, and it’s keeping a heavy hand on the wheel.
While El Niño isn’t responsible for Arkansas’ intensifying drought, it may bring the state some relief.
This year’s El Niño is classified as “‘very strong,’ which is the highest category of these phenomena, the others being ‘weak,’ ‘moderate,’ and ‘strong,’” said Christopher Buonanno, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service at Little Rock.
“The strength is categorized by measuring the sea surface temperature anomalies in a portion of the Pacific Ocean, which is a driver of the atmospheric response that promotes the conditions associated with an El Niño,” he said.
“As of this time, these anomalies are warmer than ever recorded,” Buonanno said. “This type of condition has not been experienced before, and therefore presents a difficulty in making predictions.”
However, there are signals that Arkansas might see some relief.
“Looking at the Climate Prediction Center forecasts for the winter months in Arkansas — December, January and February — above-normal temperatures are favored,” he said. “In terms of precipitation forecasts, above-normal precipitation conditions are favored, especially across southwest portions of the state.”
Source : uada.edu