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BigNumbers · 10-13-2015, 12:32 PM

I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the coming El Niño weather phenomenon that we're beginning to experience, and separate that discussion from the random musings weather thread.

Currently NASA is postulating that this year's El Niño will mimic that of 1997-1998, which brought a crazy wet and warm winter:

This year’s winter “will definitely not be normal,” NASA has said. It is, however, awfully familiar.

It’s not just the sea surface heights, like those above, that look alike—NOAA and NASA both confirm that they’re also seeing wind patterns and water temperatures that look eerily similar to the ‘97 conditions.

Researchers have been noting the budding similarities between 1997’s El Nino and our current conditions since early last year. With El Niño definitely having kicked off now, though, researchers are saying it will almost certainly peak this winter.

For those of us who's memories of Calgary's 97/98 winter is hazy, Environment Canada has a link to the top 10 weather stories from 1998 here: https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/d...n&n=3DED7A35-1

- That the year began with the second mildest winter on record was remarkable in its own right. But what followed was truly phenomenal - the warmest spring, summer and fall on record. Temperatures from December 1997 to November 1998 were an average of 2.5 degrees warmer than normal and a full one-degree above the previous high set in 1981

- On St. Patrick's Day, nothing was green in Calgary after the city experienced its worst March snowstorm in 113 years. The airport recorded 32 cm of snow, but most other parts of the city received about 40 to 45 cm. Downtown Calgary was a ghost town. Motorists couldn't dig out of their driveways, and the bus system ground to a halt. For the first time ever, the Irish had to cancel St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the city.

What does CP remember collectively about the Fall/Winter/Spring of 97/98?

10-13-2015, 12:32 PM	#1
BigNumbers Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Jan 2013 Exp:	El Niño 2015-2016 Supermegaultrathread I thought I'd start a thread to discuss the coming El Niño weather phenomenon that we're beginning to experience, and separate that discussion from the random musings weather thread. Currently NASA is postulating that this year's El Niño will mimic that of 1997-1998, which brought a crazy wet and warm winter: This year’s winter “will definitely not be normal,” NASA has said. It is, however, awfully familiar. It’s not just the sea surface heights, like those above, that look alike—NOAA and NASA both confirm that they’re also seeing wind patterns and water temperatures that look eerily similar to the ‘97 conditions. Researchers have been noting the budding similarities between 1997’s El Nino and our current conditions since early last year. With El Niño definitely having kicked off now, though, researchers are saying it will almost certainly peak this winter. For those of us who's memories of Calgary's 97/98 winter is hazy, Environment Canada has a link to the top 10 weather stories from 1998 here: https://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/d...n&n=3DED7A35-1 - That the year began with the second mildest winter on record was remarkable in its own right. But what followed was truly phenomenal - the warmest spring, summer and fall on record. Temperatures from December 1997 to November 1998 were an average of 2.5 degrees warmer than normal and a full one-degree above the previous high set in 1981 - On St. Patrick's Day, nothing was green in Calgary after the city experienced its worst March snowstorm in 113 years. The airport recorded 32 cm of snow, but most other parts of the city received about 40 to 45 cm. Downtown Calgary was a ghost town. Motorists couldn't dig out of their driveways, and the bus system ground to a halt. For the first time ever, the Irish had to cancel St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the city. What does CP remember collectively about the Fall/Winter/Spring of 97/98?