El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released October 15, 2009, by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Highlights of the U.S. Winter Outlook (December through February) include:
•Warmer-than-average temperatures are favored across much of the western and central U.S., especially in the north-central states from Montana to Wisconsin. Though temperatures may average warmer than usual, periodic outbreaks of cold air are still possible.
•Below-average temperatures are expected across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic from southern and eastern Texas to southern Pennsylvania and south through Florida.
•Above-average precipitation is expected in the southern border states, especially Texas and Florida. Recent rainfall and the prospects of more should improve current drought conditions in central and southern Texas. However, tornado records suggest that there will also be an increased chance of organized tornado activity for the Gulf Coast region this winter.
•Drier-than-average conditions are expected in the Pacific Northwest and the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys.
•Northeast: Equal chances for above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures and precipitation. Winter weather in this region is often driven not by El Niño but by weather patterns over the northern Atlantic Ocean and Arctic, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation. These patterns are often more short-term, and are generally predictable only a week or so in advance.
•California: A slight tilt in the odds toward wetter-than-average conditions over the entire state.
•Alaska: Milder-than-average temperatures except along the western coast. Equal chances for above-, near-, or below-median precipitation for most areas except above median for the northwest.
•Hawaii: Below-average temperatures and precipitation are favored for the entire state..

Information released by “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” (NOAA) on October 15, 2009.

Details: United States Winter Weather Outlook 2009 by NOAA

Tags: Weather

Posted: Tuesday, 20-Oct-2009 at 7:27
Filed in categories: Weather.
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