New El Niño threatens world with weather woe

[muriel_volestrangler]

Forecasters say this one is brewing up to be the second-strongest on record

A new El Niño has begun. The sporadic Pacific Ocean warming, which can disrupt weather patterns across the world, is intensifying, say meteorologists.

So, over the next few months, there may be increased drought in Africa, India and Australia, heavier rainfall in South America and increased extremes in Britain, of warm and cold. It may make 2010 one of the hottest years on record.

The cyclical phenomenon, which happens every two to seven years, is a major determinant of global weather systems. The 1997-98 El Niño combined with global warming to push 1998 into being the world's hottest year, and caused major droughts and catastrophic forest fires in South-east Asia which sent a pall of smoke right across the region

At present, forecasters do not expect this El Niño to equal that of 1998, but it may be the second-strongest, and concerned groups, from international insurance companies to commodity traders, to aid agencies such as Oxfam, have begun to follow its progress anxiously. Its potential for economic and social impact is considerable.
...
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/new-el-ni241o-threatens-world-with-weather-woe-1766555.html

[LiberalEsto]

1. Anyone remember Chris Farley's El Niño character?

That was the first thing that popped into my mind when reading this post.
Scary news.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. LOL! Thanks for the nostalgic chuckle. nt

[mopinko]

2. i know the weather here in chicago is crazy this summer.

we have had about 3 days that could EVEN be described as hot. and a strange pattern of storms coming in off the plains, but skirting the area, seemingly pushed down south of lake michigan. i never remember so many big storms coming through but not dropping a drop on us. weird.
but mostly it has been very, very cool.