GaWx

52 minutes ago, 40/70 Benchmark said:

What does it look like in the ENSO region?

What Chuck said. It has a healthy strength Nino, probably nearing or exceeding +1.5 ONI. That doesn’t as you know at all jibe with the La Ninaish temperature anomaly pattern it has for the US and Canada. Like I said, I’ve found no +1.0+ Nino winter anything close to the Ninalike configuration Cansips has out of 32 of them! Really weird and why I expect its overall Ninaish US temp. configuration to badly bust if a decent El Niño were to verify.

4 hours ago, 40/70 Benchmark said:

It did well last year. I was skeptical it would end up that cold. Interesting to see how it does this year.

I’m looking for it to bust badly assuming El Niño verifies. 

 The new Cansips has winter anomalies significantly colder in the NE than the SE:

 For all of the Ninos peaking at +1.5+, not a single one going back at least to 1895-6 had a colder NE than SE anomaly wise! Not even one!
 
 These are the winters: 2023-4, 2015-6, 2009-10, 2002-3, 1997-8, 1991-2, 1987-8, 1986-7, 1982-3, 1972-3, 1965-6, 1957-8, 1940-1, 1930-1, 1925-6, 1918-9, 1902-3, 1899-00, and 1896-7. That’s 19 winters, a nice sample size suggesting the CANSIPS E US winter temp. anomalies and a strong El Niño prog aren’t at all jibing with history.

 Here is the aggregate of those 19 winters:

Edit: Even going all of the way down to peaks of +1.0 yields the same result, no winter colder in NE than SE. That adds 13 more for a total sample size of 32!

 Here’s the average of the 13 moderates:

Followup:

-Fairbanks ended up with its coldest DJFM on record with it at -13.4, colder than the previous coldest of -13.0, set in 1965-6. This is ~11F BN!

-Fairbanks had its coldest March on record by a large margin, -9.0F. The prior coldest was -6.6F, set in 1959!

-Anchorage had its coldest March on record with +13.4F. The prior coldest was +14.0, set in 1959.

Fairbanks and Barrow data:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afg

Anchorage data:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afc

 
Despite most of Alaska being quite cold relative to normal, the Arctic (80+N) had one of its warmest Marches on record:

 It turns out that Barrow, whose normals are ~11F colder than Fairbanks in DJFM, was warmer than Fairbanks for DJFM by ~4F averaged out as they averaged ~4F warmer than their normal! Barrow was warmer than Fairbanks in Dec, Jan, and March this winter.

31 minutes ago, snowman19 said:

I remember that well. Everyone thought the EURO was being way too aggressive and had a bad warm bias

 1. The Euro did well with ONI in 2023, one of their best performances. But they also really did have a notable warm bias as was repeatedly shown with actual verifications vs progs over a near 20 year period, a large sample size. I spent lots of time researching and then showing this.

 A bias of any kind doesn’t at all mean that in a minority of cases verifications can’t be good. You know that. Keep in mind the very big too warm misses of 2012, 2014, and 2017 busts, for example. In all 3 cases a moderate El Niño was predicted repeatedly as I just posted. And the Euro has never been too cold by a significant degree. The one or two too cold misses were tiny in size.
 

2. The Euro when averaged out in only actual El Niño seasons had a smaller warm bias than for other seasons, which I’ve also pointed out. However, it still had a small warm bias even for those with some big too warm misses even during Nino seasons.

3. Furthermore, RONI of that season peaked at only high end moderate/low end strong as the Euro doesn’t predict RONI. Currently, RONI is ~0.5C cooler than ONI.

4. Let’s see what actually happens. It could of course end up very strong/super even for RONI as I’m open too all possibilities. It’s way too early for high confidence in any strength. That’s my main point. But remember to subtract ~0.5C for the best RONI prog.

1 hour ago, donsutherland1 said:

Bad methodology. Notice he uses MT and WY. 90s in March are virtually assured to be near or at zero. Thus he assures himself the kind of conclusion he seeks. A more robust approach would involve standardized measurements, e.g., the number of highs 1 sigma, 2 sigma, etc., above the 20th century baseline. 

Thanks, Don. He also said “I may look at March days with maximum temperatures at or above the 90th percentile for better measure.”

 If he actually does this and posts it, would that be a better approach? 

Exciting day for space enthusiasts tomorrow!

Live updates: Will Artemis II launch tomorrow? Florida's weather outlook and mission status updates

LIVE UPDATES
Last Update May 1, 2026 at 10:44 PM EDT
NASA is targeting an April 1 launch for the historic Artemis II mission, with meteorologists currently tracking a favorable 80% "Go" weather forecast at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Follow our live coverage for real-time radar analysis, countdown milestones, and the latest mission status as four astronauts prepare for humanity's first crewed journey to the Moon in over 50 years.

https://www.foxweather.com/live-news/live-updates-will-artemis-ii-launch-tomorrow-florida-s-weather-outlook-and-mission-status-updates#google_vignette

 From outspoken pro met. Chris Martz fwiw:

 Any comments?

This is my first time doing this:
 

DCA: +3.3

NYC: +2.6

BOS: +2.2

ORD: +2.9

ATL: +3.3

IAH: +1.6

DEN: +5.0

PHX: +4.2

SEA: +1.1

1 hour ago, frontranger8 said:

Are we gonna talk about how Fairbanks had their coldest DJFM on record, and shattered their coldest March on record by over 3 degrees?

The contrast sure is fascinating! Anchorage also is getting their coldest March on record. Because this thread is centered on Phoenix, I talked about the record cold Fairbanks in another thread, including in this post:

JB is going to bring his numbers way down per what he recently said. He said 2015 may be a good analog.

53 minutes ago, 40/70 Benchmark said:

Okay.....I bet you $100 the PDO averages positive this winter if El Nino peaks at 1.5 or higher this coming fall.

Are you talking RONI peak?

Which PDO are you referring to, the monthly NOAA or the WCS graphed dailies, which average ~1 higher?

1 hour ago, PhiEaglesfan712 said:

Yeah, they prematurely overhyped the el nino. But by the time you got to 14-15, you just knew whenever the el nino developed, it was going to be historic. The el nino was building up for 3-4 years at that time.

I'd even argue that 2024-25 was a la nina bust, as well. That one was predicted early on to be a strong la nina, but ended up as a disjointed 2-year la nina.

1. The Euro also repeatedly (April through August) predicted a moderate El Niño ONI in 2012 and ONI ended up peaking at only +0.4.

2. In March of 2017 Euro progged a +1.1 ONI in JAS vs -0.1 ONI that verified!

In April of 2017 it progged +1.1 ASO vs -0.3 that verified!

1 hour ago, michsnowfreak said:

I am NO enso expert, not even close, but I remember a handful of years ago, they were hyping a STRONG (I cant even remember if it was Nino or Nina) event and it failed so bad it was either a cold/warm neutral. 

Not saying I think this El Nino fails, just that it seems way early to be SO confident in a strong one.

The Euro is prone to being too warm with ONI, sometimes by a lot:

1) 2014:

It in 3/2014 predicted a +1.3 ONI for JAS vs only +0.1 that verified

It progged in 4/2014 +1.4 for ASO vs only +0.3 that verified

Euro progged in 5/2014 +1.5 for ASO vs only +0.3 that verified

2) 2012:

It progged in 4/2012 +1.0 for ASO vs only +0.4 that verified

It progged in 5/2012 +1.0 for SON vs only +0.3 that verified

It progged in 6/2012 +1.2 for OND vs only +0.1 that verified

3) 2017:

In March of 2017 Euro progged a +1.1 ONI in JAS vs -0.1 ONI that verified!

In April of 2017 it progged +1.1 ASO vs -0.3 that verified!

—————

I’m not even talking about RONI, which as of now is ~0.5 cooler than ONI.

———————
Sources:

Euro progs

https://iri.columbia.edu/our-expertise/climate/forecasts/enso/2014-June-quick-look/?enso_tab=enso-sst_table
 

ONI:

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/indices/oni.ascii.txt

Atlanta, especially airport south through the S burbs, had a major snowstorm in Jan of 1992.

Impressive activity ITT so early with already page 12 while still in March! How does this compare to when prior ENSO titled annual threads reached page 12? All of these started in Feb:

2025-6: well into April

2024-5: May

2023-4: April

2022-3: can’t find

2021-2: September 

 So, 2026-7 is the most active of these so early thanks in part to the anticipated amazingly strong WWB, which better happen this time or else…

20 minutes ago, forkyfork said:

 let's see that map with the heat wave included

 I don’t have it going later than 3/17. I got that 3/1-17 from another source as I didn’t produce the map. Of course, the full March will be warmer. Example (looking at Phoenix): 3/1-17 was +9 but 3/1-31 should be ~+12. I know where to find the lower 48 map after the month is over.

 Where can one get the up to date month to date map?

On 3/18/2026 at 9:44 AM, GaWx said:

Today’s MJO forecasts still are all in phases 7 and 8, the coldest in Baltimore (as rep. city) in March on average following La Niña winters:

 

@EastonSN+

Followup: Look how far-off the quoted 3/18 MJO progs are verifying! They had it in phase 7 3/24-29 headed to phase 8 vs the reality of them then already being in phase 8 headed toward phase 1:

@EastonSN+

1 hour ago, donsutherland1 said:

Using a chart inspired by Jeff Berardelli's return-time charts, here's how Fairbanks would look for March 2026:

And December-March (cases prior to 1911-12 were excluded due to the number of missing days during the 1905-06 through 1910-11 period):

 

This record cold March at Fairbanks is even more amazing when you consider how much above normal it was in the Arctic (80+N) in March:

 You can see evidence of this stark contrast of cold anomalies to the warm anomalies to the north in the Arctic as well as to the south in the lower 48 on this for March 1-17:

2 hours ago, LongBeachSurfFreak said:

I’m not discounting this event is highly influenced by climate change, but in regards to Pheonix at least some of the temp increase is related to the UHI. I don’t see any reference to that in the data provided. Pheonix pre 1970s isn’t comparable to today.


.

 We’ve talked about UHI being a nontrivial portion of Phoenix’s warming. I’ve brought it up, myself.

 But, note as you may already realize that the UHI affects the warming of lows more than the warming of highs (assuming I’m not mistaken).

Hey @Stormchaserchuck1any thoughts about this?

Fairbanks is progged to have its coldest DJFM on record with it ~-13.1F!

The current coldest DJFM:

1965-6: -12.9F El Niño 

1970-1: -11.6F La Niña 

1933-4: -11.1F La Niña 

1917-8: -10.6F La Niña

 By a margin of 2F, they’re progged to have their coldest March on record at ~-8.6F!

Link to data that allowed me to calculate this out:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afg

19 minutes ago, TheClimateChanger said:

Interesting. He says another warm summer but then explicitly predicts the 2nd coldest summer since 2019, and only slightly warmer than 2023. Especially if the heat is out west as he suggests, I think most people will consider that to be one of the coldest summers in recent memory.

They forecast based on population weighted because their forecasts are for the purpose of forecasting AC usage as opposed to what you look at, which isn’t pop weighted. Does that relate to your post?

On 3/24/2026 at 11:21 AM, GaWx said:

In addition to Fairbanks, cities such as Anchorage and Yellowknife, NW Territories as well as the area in between and surrounding have a chance to have their all time record coldest Marches. That’s ~2,000 miles long and ~400 miles wide area or ~800K square miles, which is ~18% of the combined square miles in Canada and Alaska or ~25% of the size of the lower 48!

 Does anyone have a link to monthly records for Canadian cities and more specifically Yellowknife? Anyone have a link to maps showing historic temperature anomalies by month for Canada like we have for the US?

 Yellowknife in March of 2026:

Mean temp March 1-23: -26C

Normal for entire month: -16C

March 2026 so far:

https://www.predictwind.com/weather/canada/northwest-territories/yellowknife/march

 

Normals in C:

https://weatherspark.com/y/2362/Average-Weather-in-Yellowknife-Northwest-Territories-Canada-Year-Round

Followup:

Fairbanks is progged to have its coldest DJFM on record with it ~-13.1F!

The current coldest DJFM:

1965-6: -12.9F El Niño 

1970-1: -11.6F La Niña 

1933-4: -11.1F La Niña 

1917-8: -10.6F La Niña

 By a margin of 2F, they’re progged to have their coldest March on record at ~-8.6F!

This feat is extra amazing because the Arctic has warmed the most due to GW!

Link to data that allowed me to calculate this out:

https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=afg

  After yesterday’s KSAV record tying high of 89, today’s was only 69, which was just after midnight. It stayed in the 60s through the afternoon along with some clouds much of the day, breezy NE winds, and dewpoints mainly upper 30s to 40 making for a pleasant walk. It’s now down to 56. Tonight’s low is forecasted to be in the upper 40s.

 1. How about this? Phoenix had its coolest high in 11 days by a good margin (96) and yet it was still another record high, the 14th of this month!        

 2. Believe it or not, the next two days’ record highs of 97 are forecasted to be close to being hit. So, two more daily record highs are possible!

 3. The morning low was 75. IF it doesn’t cool down to 74 by midnight local time, it would be not only a new record high low for today, it would become the new monthly record high low and the earliest 75 low by far with the current earliest being way out on April 19th! The current record for the day and month is 74, set way back in 1986.