The Euro seasonal actually shows a -NAO in December but it’s ruined with a God awful PAC side at the same time....has a huge vortex over AK/++EPO. All the -NAO would do in that case is bring down junk PAC air. If the Euro is wrong about the PAC being that bad, then December would be the best shot at being the wintry month, it shows the next 3 months (Jan-Mar) after with just raging +NAO and +AO. There is some support for a -NAO in December, question will be how bad is the PAC at that point?
This is potentially the strongest La Niña we’ve had in over 30 years (88-89). Pretty amazing that we’ve gone this long without a very strong La Niña.....
The CFS is forecasting a prolonged period of very strong easterlies over the ENSO regions starting in mid to late November. This would support more robust La Niña strengthening going into December
If the CFS is correct, very strong easterlies return across the ENSO regions in mid to late November, this would support another robust round of La Niña strengthening
The CFSV2 is now predicting a historic, “super” La Niña. It shows ENSO region 3.4 dropping down to -2.25C...which would make it the strongest La Niña in history....surpassing 73-74 and 88-89
The latest model runs are forecasting the strongest La Niña in history, they show region 3.4 dropping to -2.25C. If it happens, it would take 1st place over ‘73-‘74 and ‘88-‘89.
Agreed. We’re in a basin-wide strong La Niña. If we don’t see legit -AO and west-based -NAO blocking (east-based -NAO won’t help), we will be in deep trouble. The PAC side is most likely going to be garbage, -PNA/RNA, +EPO, +WPO
People need to wait until the beginning of December to see what effects the upcoming -PNA/RNA pattern has on the SSTs off the western North American coast and the GOA. @Allsnow mentioned this yesterday, but there’s a possibility that all those warm anomalies get completely eroded away in the next several weeks
I was thinking that too. Once the wavelengths start to shorten up again in March, those MJO phases don’t have the same mild effects on the pattern as they do in the dead of winter. If I’m a betting man, March will be cold, assuming everything progresses that way. What you don’t want to see in a La Niña winter is a mild December with below normal snowfall...they almost always have very poor outcomes
Unusual for sure. If the CANSIPS is correct, you have to pray for help on the PAC side...question is will you get it with a coupled, strong La Niña in place? It shows absolutely no help at all from the AO and NAO from Dec-Mar. Positive AO and NAO as far as the eye can see
Yes, this may actually be the strongest Niña we’ve seen since ‘88-‘89 when all is said and done, if some of these forecasts are correct. I believe the UKMET has this thing peaking at -2.0C trimonthly. If that’s correct, it would be in the same category as ‘73-‘74
@donsutherland1 Looks like ENSO region 3.4 has crossed the threshold into “strong” territory. Now -1.6C. I guess the models that were showing this happening in November and December back in late August/early September weren’t so crazy after all. This La Niña isn’t playing around, it’s fully coupled with the atmosphere now.