How does El Niño affect north america?
1 Answer
El Niño is a term used for the period when sea surface temperatures are above normal off the southern American coast along the equatorial Pacific.
Explanation:
During El Niño the jet stream is oriented from west to east across the southern portion of US, making the region more susceptible to severe weather outbreaks.
In general the El Niño brings :
- cooler and wetter weather to the southern parts of US
- warmer weather to western Canada and southern Alaska
- drier weather to the Pacific Northwest
- cooler weather to northern Canada
- wetter weather to Southern California.
For North America during the winter months the storm track is shifted, so that an increase in precipitation occurs along the southern tier of US and Mexico. Warmer than normal temperatures invade northern latitudes of Canada, Alaska and the northern tier of US states. Typically El Niño reduces the amount of snowfall in central sections of the states. The Gulf coast of the US experiences below normal temperatures during winter season.
These effects are felt strongest in the winter after onset of the event. The Atlantic hurricane season is usually diminished during El Niño, while the tornado season is more active.
