NOAA forecasts 80% chance that a strong El Nino will last through the end of the year
One of the strongest El Nino cycles in almost two decades is likely to persist through fall and possibly winter, according to both U.S. and Australian
Source: The Weather Channel
government meteorologists. An El Nino cycle will likely mean warmer than normal temperatures for the northern United States, translating into weaker demand for natural gas next winter.
Earlier this month, both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology issued oultooks that forecast El Nino to persist into northern hemisphere possibly into the winter months. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center gave an 80% chance the El Nino will last through the rest of 2015, reports The Weather Channel.
El Nino is an anomalous, yet periodic, warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Every 2 to 7 years, this patch of ocean warms for a period of 6 to 18 months, affecting weather patterns.
El Nino cycles are far from the only determining factor in forecasting weather, but with cooler than average summer temperatures expected this year, continued mild temperatures throughout the U.S. could have a bearish effect on natural gas markets.
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