Pacific Ocean Temperatures Approaching Those Of Record 97-98 El Nino - Reuters

[hatrack]

SYDNEY - Pacific Ocean temperatures remained at levels typical of a drought-bringing El Nino weather pattern, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said on Wednesday.

The bureau said in its latest fortnightly report that central Pacific Ocean surface temperatures are now at their warmest level since the El Nino of 1997-98, exceeding temperatures observed in both the 2002-03 and 2006-07 events. "Similarly, cloudiness and rainfall near the equator remains enhanced, while eastern Australian rainfall remains low; all typical of a mature El Nino event," the bureau said.

An El Nino, which means "little boy" in Spanish, is driven by an abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean, and can create havoc in weather patterns across the Asia-Pacific region.

The last severe El Nino in 1998 killed more than 2,000 people and caused billions of dollars in damages to crops, infrastructure and mines in Australia and Asia.

EDIT

http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/56116

[msongs]

1. so far in so cal rain is at or below normals. storms have had little tropical in flow nt

[FreakinDJ]

2. Just like 97 just before the Floods

[XemaSab]

3. .

:popcorn:

I lived along the Sacramento then, and I live along the Sacramento now.

Only then there was a big levee between me and the river. :hide:

[n2doc]

4. Image from yesterday

[joshcryer]

5. Going to have to dig up my posts in 2008-early 2009 predicting this.

It sucks to be right in this instance, though. Let's hope for an extended solar minimum (not just because it would help shut up the denialists because they couldn't blame it, but because it would be a much worse El Nino if it ends).

[tom_paine]

6. Interesting...waiting for the summer, to see...