Latest News

12/19/2024, 6:45 am EST

Climate Forecasts Project Potential Significant Drought Risk Canadian Prairies to Midwest U.S. Next Warm Season

Yesterday’s year ahead climate forecast for North America reveals a dry climate pattern setting up across the northwest Great Plains to the Ohio Valley during APR/MAY/JUN 2025 expanding northward across the Canadian Prairies during JUL/AUG/SEP 2025. The dry pattern is accompanied by anomalous heat and implies potential for a large drought developing during the 2025 warm season.
12/17/2024, 4:06 am EST

Despite Developing La Nina, Eastern Australia Is Dry/Hot Late-DEC to Mid-JAN

Typically, La Nina brings wet weather to Eastern Australia. The daily Nino34 SSTA descends to -0.85C and La Nina onset is imminent. Short-term heavy rains are in the forecast for Coastal Queensland. However, the week 2-4 outlook (from ECM) is widespread drier and hotter than normal across Eastern Australia, very different from a typical La Nina climate.
12/10/2024, 4:21 pm EST

Status of the Potential North America January 2025 “Polar Vortex” Forecast

Despite agreement between CFS V2 and ECMWF on evolution of a polar vortex pattern in Canada by Jan. 6-12, forecast confidence remains below average. There are questions on whether the PV pattern is driven by late December stratospheric warming over Eurasia or whether the event is in response to an eastward shift of the Madden Julian oscillation across the American longitude. Additionally, there are questions on extent of snow cover to force an effective cold and whether a ridge bridge across Alaska can tap Siberia arctic air. Stay tuned! A potential cold scenario, but not a guarantee.
12/08/2024, 1:55 pm EST

La Nina Onset Possible by January 1st

On the ENSO front, nearly 30 days of positive phase southern oscillation index (+SOI) intensifying during early December has caused increased trade winds and cooling SSTA in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The Nino34 SSTA reached the La Nina threshold of -0.50C over the weekend. The +SOI regime continues through mid-December. Oceanic La Nina onset is possible by early January.