Storm Impacting the Northwest U.S.; Fire Weather Conditions in Southern California; Severe Weather in the South

A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >

The Climate Prediction Center has issued an El Niño Watch. Though conditions are currently neutral, there is a 62% chance of an El Niño developing during the May to July time period. The range of possibilities toward the end of the year includes a 40% chance of a strong El Niño to a 10% chance of no El Niño.

El Niño is an area of above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Over Indonesia, rainfall tends to become reduced while rainfall increases over the tropical Pacific. The low-level surface winds, which normally blow from east to west along the equator, instead weaken or, in some cases, start blowing the other direction. These changes over the tropical Pacific can effect atmospheric circulations that then translate through the atmosphere and affect weather patterns far away from the tropics.

For more information on El Niño and La Niña, see our 1-Stop El Niño/La Niña page.