40/70 Benchmark

I think it will be crucial to compare SSTs this fall to 2015 and 2023.

2015 super Nino triggered the development of the west Pacific warm pool, which is the primary catalyst for the persistent cool ENSO residue that has predominated the past decade. It wasn't as severe as 2023 because the PDO was strongly positive, agreed.

Bring it...I welcome that....I know it will also mean warmth, but I'm sick of the drier winters.

Yes, RONI lagged the ONI (2.4 vs 2.8)...like 2023, but the PDO was positive on 2025, whereas 2023 was negative like 1972.

Well, I had a great event in January 2024, but it wasn't too widespread. I had 19" on 1/7/2024. I think we should be able to pull off something more akin to 2015-2016 versus 2023-2024.

Recall in January 2016 we had the big blizzard in January, and then a record arctic surge around V-Day.

I know Chuck disagrees, but I don't think it matters much....it will be very warm. I think keeping it more west-focused, like 2015, just gives a better shot at a big storm and a cold interval or two.

Important to see how the PDO evolves, too.....I don't think that it will, but if it were to remain negative with the RONI continuing to lag to ONI, then good night nurse.

2023 would be my top analog, though probably not quite as warm and snowless given a bit more favorable of a look in the north Pacific.

So 2.0 RONI and 2.5 ONI....not good. I'll go torch if that remains consistent. I would rather see the RONI higher.

What does it have for the ONI?

I see your point, but I have a couple counters that you neglect to consider. I know for a fact that modern snowfall measuring techniques are not homogeneous....secondly, while I do agree that the 6 hourly method does increase totals on average because it's actually measuring snowfall, which is different from to snow depth, there are some mixed precipitation events in which it will not.

It's because the warming of the western Pacific has outpaced eastern Pacific, which fosters a cool ENSO paradigm.

Weak-moderate is absolutely better than strong in my region.

Let me preface this by admitting that I am still on my annual hiatus and won't begin really diving in until latter May/June....but I remain skeptical of an uber-strong El Nino. My larger concern is the continued lag between the RONI and the ONI being reflective of what will ultimately be a partial masking the warm ENSO, and thus a reduced north Pacific response, which would mean a less pronounced GOA low. I do not expect a result as dire as 2023 because we seem to have a changed longer-term WPO modes, but I would, nonetheless, like to see that delt between the RONI and ONI close with time.

Yup. NCAR is NOMORE

I was a bit underwhelmed awakening to cloudy and 45.

Doesn't really change anything using 1991-2020.

This is a warmer version of the 1950s and 1980s, though hemispherically speaking, it's more akin to the 1950s...so instead of 19.9" or 19.7, NYC has averaged 18.2 this decade. o

I was, but appreciated his thoughtful response, anyway.

Maybe in terms of temps, but I doubt in terms of snowfall. 1982, 1997 and 2015 all had one great storm.

Have you considered the possibility that it may never snow again south of Bridgeport, CT if we get another super El Nino?

1982 would actually be a best-case scenario assuming a super El Nino, and may be a favored outcome considering the recent flip to more -WPO in the northern Pacific. It was mild, but had essentially normal snowfall throughout the northeast. I don't mean like 2015, which was good in the mid Atlantic due to one storm, but still sucked in the northeast.

If we are going to go high end, I just assume the RONI not lag the ONI......I would prefer to take my chances with both in sync and try to pop a huge GOA low. I understand the risks with east-based and such, but keep in mind that I'm conceding a mild winter and am just looking for a window to get a good storm. My largest fear is some El nino/cool ENSO bastard-child, along the lines of 2023 that won't pop a se trough.

Only super event with normalish snowfall in my area...still warm, of course.