WASHINGTON 鈥� The worldwide weather pattern known as El Nino is getting started in the Pacific, and forecasters are saying that this one could be the strongest in decades, possibly ever. It could last well into the winter, perhaps even into the spring.
So what does that mean for the D.C. area? National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong told 海角社区app on Tuesday that it could mean good news in one season, rough news in another.
El Nino, Strong says, is 鈥渁 cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean 鈥� which is a big part of the globe, when you think about it.鈥� So its fluctuations can have a serious effect on weather, though mostly in California, where it comes aground in the U.S.
But the heat and moisture that El Nino pumps into the atmosphere creates 鈥渁dded potential鈥� for stronger winter storms for the D.C. area, though Strong cautions that it鈥檚 too early to tell for sure and that each individual storm is different.
The good news, however, is that El Nino 鈥渁ctually ends to suppress hurricane season,鈥� Strong says.
A less-active season has been forecast for the Atlantic Ocean this year, 鈥渁nd so far that鈥檚 been the case.鈥�
