The "El Nino"
September 24, 1997
The scientists are running around buzzing about the warmest anomalies (departures from normal) in the sea surface temperature
in the equatorial eastern Pacific. Surfers are still surfing without wetsuits in central California (Santa Cruz) in 63 degree water. Fisherman are catching tropical game fish off San Francisco. The water is the warmest it has been in 50 years and the anomalies continue to persist down near the equator.
What this all means to board riders depends on where you are located and how much you put stock in weather predictions. Yea this anomaly will probably have an affect; but where, when, how much, and how long? They don't know. The last really warm "el nino" was back in 82-83. The west coast (US) experienced huge surf and lots of flooding. During the coming northern hemisphere winter season they expect wetter than normal conditions to prevail over most of the extreme southern United States, and warmer than normal conditions to develop over the northern United States from the Rocky Mountains eastward to the Great Lakes. Whatever Mother Nature sends your way, just be prepared to take advantage of what comes (that is the boarders lifestyle anyway). These things usually cause natural disasters, big surf, good sandbars, and lots of precipitation (snow we hope). Sometimes you have too break some eggs to make an omelette. Surfers and snowboarders love omelettes.
Some Links for More Data
El Niņo Resources
What is an El Nino?
EL NIŅO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION
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