Alaska's El Niño Update

A strong El Niño is now officially underway in the central Pacific. NOAA/NWS Alaska Region Senior Climate Scientist, Brian Brettschnider takes a deep dive into what exactly El Niño is and what it means to Alaska in the coming months into winter.

Sea surface temperatures in the key Niño are already well above the threshold and rising rapidly, with a massive reservoir of warm subsurface water. Forecasts show very high confidence of El Niño through the coming year, likely peaking as a very strong (or possibly record) event this winter. For Alaska in July, this tilts the odds toward warmer-than-normal temperatures and drier conditions, a helpful “thumb on the scale” for fire season planning, though not a guarantee. The pattern is expected to strengthen further through summer and fall.

https://youtu.be/sBnsQdREZPc?si=ScOoy09Wcs6v_xV1

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