I just reviewed the latest El Nino Southern Oscillation update from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. A few details summarize what is happening in our strong El Nino pattern.
-Sea Surface temperatures (SST) are 1.0C - 3.0C above-average across much of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific.
-During the last 30 days, equatorial SST anomalies have decreased in small areas across the eastern Pacific.
-Based on current observations and dynamical model forecasts, El Nino is expected to continue at least into the Northern Hemisphere spring 2010.
What does this mean for us?
El Nino pattern typicals allows Mississippi to be cooler and wetter. Evidence of the El Nino pattern can already be noticed from the wet December and cold start to January.