She's Back! La Niña Is Here For The Second Consecutive Year

Capitol Zero ^ | 11-12-2017

[blam]

For the second consecutive time in two years, La Niña (translated from Spanish as “little girl”) is back and she means business. New data from Climate.gov indicates La Niña conditions have formed just in time for winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere.

On Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center confirmed La Niña after analyzing October ocean temperatures cooling along the equatorial eastern and central Pacific Ocean. La Niña is often declared when sea surface temperatures in the region (just stated) decline by 0.5 degrees Celsius

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(Lots of nice charts and graphs at the site.)

[oldasrocks]

In the last 40 years or so we’ve only had 3 normal ones. What is normal?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Graduate work, decades of practical experience...all at your service!

[Myrddin]

We had 80 inches of snow in Pocatello last year compared to the normal 40 inches. Th local mountains already have some snow above 7000 ft. At my elevation of 4600 ft, we've had one small night with accumulation on the street. It didn't last until noon. Compare the 20 feet of snow piled in the middle of the cul-de-sac because there was nowhere else to put snow.

Temperatures were pretty cold last year. The airport records -19F in December. Christmas eve it was -7F as I made an emergency plumbing parts run to Lowe's before they closed the doors.

[motor_racer]

How long does snow have to stick around to be called “accumulation”?

[usconservative]

If the weather will be like last year I approve 100%. Not very cold and I had to shovel once or twice.

I never had to start my snowblower last year. I'm good with another warmer than normal winter living here 30 miles SW of the murder capital of the United States, Chicago IL.

Hopefully it means my arthritis won't be as bad this winter too......

[Myrddin]

Long enough to turn white on the surface instead of melting. We get light flurries that just melt on contact with the street. When the temps have been under 20 for a few days, the snow lands on the street like dry sand and blows around. Subzero temps grow hoar frost on the trees. I don't mind seeing a couple feet out the front door. Takes about 20 minutes to shovel the driveway and steps.

Hoar Frost