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El Nino ready to break loose: Meteorologists in Flagstaff say many factors affect the region’s winter weather, but significantly warmer water in the eastern Pacific this year is key

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 7, 2009 at 7:45 am

el ninoFrom the Arizona Daily Sun, a detailed article on El Nino:

“National Weather Service forecaster Mark Stubblefield clutches a large ivory, hydrogen-filled balloon in his left hand, casually strides a few feet forward, and lets go.

The balloon ascends rapidly, carrying with it a little white box of instruments. The instruments will take measurements on their climb to 100,000 feet and provide critical input for computer weather prediction models. Stubblefield watches as the wind catches the balloon and pushes it off towards the northeast, in seconds the balloon is a tiny dot fading into the ominous dark-gray background of clouds. Stubblefield turns to walk back inside the Bellemont NWS office.

“Once it’s in the air, the machine takes care of everything else,” he said.

Despite a lack of storms throughout fall, the NWS recently observed changing weather patterns in the Pacific that lead them to predict a wetter than average winter is coming fast. According to Stubblefield, a blizzard warning is in effect today as NWS scientists expect what is possibly the first El Nino-influenced storm of the season to slam northern Arizona.

The system is expected to bring up to 2 feet of snow by Tuesday, with another storm following closely on its heels. … “

Read more from the Arizona Daily Sun by clicking here.

December 7, 2009 · Filed Under Drought, Weather & Snowpack

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