Here Comes El Nino: It's Early, Likely to Be Big, Sloppy and Add Even More Heat to a Warming World
U.S. News & World Report An early bird El Nino has officially formed, likely to be strong, warp weather worldwide and give an already warming Earth an extra kick of natural heat, meteorologists announced.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday issued an El Nino advisory, announcing the arrival of the climatic condition. It may not quite be like the others.
It formed a month or two earlier than most El Ninos do, which gives it room to grow, and theres a 56% chance it will be considered strong and a 25% chance it reaches supersized levels, said climate scientist Michelle LHeureux, head of NOAAs El Nino/La Nina forecast office.
If this El Nino tips into the largest class of events ... it will be the shortest recurrence time in the historical record, said Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at Brown University. Such a short gap between El Ninos leaves communities with less time to recover from damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems like coral reefs.
Usually, an El Nino mutes hurricane activity in the Atlantic, giving relief to coastal areas in states from Texas to New England, Central America and the Caribbean, weary from recent record busy years. But this time, forecasters dont see that happening, because of record hot Atlantic temperatures that would counteract the El Nino winds that normally decapitate many storms.
