A significant Super El Niño, expected to peak this winter, might actually bring mild weather to New York City, while other areas of the United States may face severe storms and flooding, forecasters indicated on Thursday.
This unusually strong weather phenomenon, gauged by sea surface temperatures, could exceed typical El Niño levels by more than six times from November to January, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization.
“We’re literally off the monitoring charts we’ve used for the past four decades,” remarked Celeste Saulo, secretary of the WMO, on Wednesday.
In New York, this could lead to an extended autumn feel well into January, with forecasts suggesting the city could receive a quarter less snow than last winter, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz.
“This year, fall will stick around longer,” Benz noted. “Winter is expected to make a late arrival.”
He added that residents might only start feeling the full brunt of winter in the Tri-State area by mid to late January.
Last winter was quite harsh, with New York City experiencing 43 inches of snowfall. However, this year, projections indicate only 10 to 20 inches of snow.
The Northeastern U.S. is largely expected to experience a milder winter thanks to this weather system.
Conversely, the Western U.S. is not likely to enjoy similar benefits from the Super El Niño phenomenon.
Benz pointed out that Northern California could see frequent intense storms, leading to rainfall and wind, along with coastal storms potentially causing erosion.
The Southern U.S., especially the Northern Gulf Coast, may also face increased heavy rain events.
Regions like the Rockies, Sierra Nevadas, and parts of the Midwest are predicted to receive heavier snowfall.
“El Niño is a term we hear every year, but this time it could be among the strongest we’ve ever recorded,” Benz stated.
On Wednesday, UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher characterized the Super El Niño as a “wrecking ball” that would result in extreme weather conditions like heat waves, droughts, and floods across the globe.
“This El Niño is truly a behemoth,” Fletcher added.
