Weather has always been extreme, but the summer of 2023 has experienced a new level of heat, drought, biblical flooding and billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.
Confidence levels are high that the the fall and winter months will be milder and drier than average, based on a developing Super El Nino pattern in the Pacific Ocean
The El Nino pattern currently underway may quickly become a Super El Nino, keeping the Northland warmer and drier into next winter, with frequent outbreaks of "weather weirding".
Ready for a generous serving of weather whiplash? The models are blinking yellow: suggesting an El Nino warming phase of the Pacific by summer, a pattern that may favor warmer and drier conditions into next winter.
La Nina has kept the Northland cooler than average for much of the last 3 years but that chilly bias in the Pacific may be giving way to an El Nino event later this year, which would imply much warmer conditions next winter. Much is up in the air, but the patterns are shifting.
This El Nino weather pattern has some folks cheering because of our mild weather. While it's nice to be in December and not even have my winter jacket out, it sure sucks for outdoor winter activies like ice fishing. I was up at Fish Lake at my in-laws yesterday and saw that it was ice covered. But upon closer look, it's nowhere near ready to fish.