La Nina Strikes 2011 Winter Weather in U.S.
The phenomenon known as La Nina will affect winter weather in the U.S. for the second consecutive year, meteorological experts said Thursday.
In their annual winter weather outlook, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a harsh and bitingly cold winter for many of the northern states, again, and may also make the drought some of the southern hemisphere is experiencing even worse.
“We’re fairly confident that the La Nina isn’t going anywhere and will be with us through the winter,” said Bob Kelly, chief of forecast operations at NOAA’s hydrological predictions center.
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NOAA Deputy Director Mike Halpert of the climate prediction center said that it will probably be a hard winter season this year for everyone in the United States.
“That’s kind of the way things are favored,” he said.
“The redevelopment of La Nina does play a large part in our winter weather and we do have these back-to-back La Nina years.”
La Nina may not be the only source of unfavorable weather this year. According to Halpert, less foreseeable influences like Arctic oscillation could also inflict havoc and severe conditions within most geographic regions across the U.S.
Although La Nina is constantly hovering and always present, experts say, its affects aren’t immediately visible. The phenomenon alternates between positive and negative phases, a situation that creates the potential for dramatic weather conditions.
Negative periods generally cause a cold air current to flow from Canada and into the U.S., resulting in extensive snow, or periods of heavy snowfall.
La Nina rouses concern from those in states like Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma were droughts continue to affect residential drinking limitations. According to reports featured on CNN, Texas is currently facing its driest year period on record, spanning from October 2010 through September. The dry conditions have also spurred several wildfires throughout the region in recent months.
The NOAA also predicts that states surrounding the Great Lakes will be chillier with an increase in precipitation between December, January and February months.
