Major Weather Event Will Impact Louisiana This Summer
(KMDL-FM) Forecasters and weather scientists with NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have confirmed a major global weather event will impact Louisiana's weather and climate this summer. The effects of this global event could stretch well into the fall and winter months and could have an enormous impact on the Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The tricky part, according to weather scientists, is whether the phenomenon will have a positive effect on Louisiana's weather and climate or whether the implications of this naturally occurring event will create havoc and chaos.
Why Are Weather Scientists So Concerned About What's Developing in the Pacific?
Scientists have been aware of the potential for the development of this natural phenomenon for months. So there have been models and projections produced, and despite all of the technology and weather knowledge that we currently have at our disposal, there is no guarantee as to whether the Super El Niño pattern that has developed in the Pacific Ocean will be a good thing or a bad thing for Louisiana.
READ MORE: Disturbed Weather in the Gulf Raises Concerns, Anxiety Along Coast
As of June 11th, weather officials confirmed the presence of El Niño in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming of ocean water temperatures usually creates more wind shear in the upper atmosphere. This tends to curtail the development of hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic Basin. That would be a good thing for Louisiana.
However, El Niño conditions have been known to exacerbate drought conditions in the western sections of the country, while here in Louisiana and the Gulf South, an El Niño winter is usually milder but much wetter. So, flooding rains and an uptick in seasonal severe weather can't be ruled out as we move through the summer and into the transitional season of fall.
And while we hope that the developing El Niño will curtail tropical development, we remind you that it won't eliminate tropical systems, and it only takes one hurricane to make a season memorable. Let's also hope we won't see a 10-year repeat of the Floods of 2016.
READ MORE: Parish-by-Parish Probability: Landfalling Tropical System in Your Parish
And since Mother Nature won't let us see her playbook or her planner, you're just going to have to check back with us from time to time. Make sure you have the station app. We'll send you important weather information on it when that becomes necessary.
And don't forget to review and refresh your hurricane kit if you haven't done so. You will want to have it if you need to, and you'll be really upset with yourself if a storm comes and you missed the chance to be prepared.