By Miguel Padilla.
PUBLISHED: October 14, 2023 at 7:36 p.m.
(Gray fog blankets rolling mountain hills, concealing the view from Loma Linda to San Bernardino, photo by me)
With rain having battered Southern California early into the year, talks of an El Niño weather event have begun circulating. What exactly does an El Nino weather event mean, and how might this affect us here going into the year? To answer this, we dive deeper into the science of this meteorological phenomenon.
An El Nino is classified as a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when surface ocean temperatures rise, allowing for seasonal storms to grow as they pass over ocean currents in the winter months. An El Nino impacts the way in which our atmosphere circulates jet streams, which receive additional moisture content when traveling over the warmer-than-average ocean waters.
Current conditions off the Pacific Ocean are not only consistent with an El Nino event, but indicative of a very strong version of the phenomenon. This climate pattern is expected to carry it’s way into Spring of 2024.
The city of San Bernardino averages about a 16.4 percent rainfall total annually, with the earlier months of Jan, Feb, and March already giving our neighboring county of Riverside two to three times as much rainfall as usual. With strong El Nino indicators throughout the year, the question is not if, but how hard we will be hit by rain in the coming months.
With the promise of an abnormal wet season, also comes the possibilities of floods, thunder storms, and yes – even smaller tornados. Mountain communities here in San Bernardino county need to be especially prepared, as flash flooding has proved dangerous during previous rain events. In August of last year, dramatic video captured flash flooding which burst onto mountain community streets. Tropical Storm Hilary earlier this year also pulled a number on unsuspecting folks, with downed trees along two-way roads making it hard for emergency personnel to make their way to those most affected. With the possibility of rain on the way, also comes the possibility of record snowfall. Stocking up on provisions, including food, blankets, and other essential household goods is highly recommended for those in mountain communities, as this year saw 13 fatalities in affected San Bernardino communities.
As we inch ever closer to December here in the Inland Empire, it’s best to prepare for a wetter-than-average season, as conditions behind an intense El Nino continue to be proven here in Southern California.
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