The latest seasonal weather outlook for the nation, including Western Washington, was recently released and reflects an ongoing strengthening El Niño heading into this winter.
The eastern Pacific tropical waters west of Peru have warmed to 2 degrees Celsius, or about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, above average. This warming is the result of weaker-than-normal easterly trade winds across the Pacific.
El Niño sea surface temperature forecast guidance from around the world indicates El Niño will strengthen through the end of the year. In fact, there is a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event, and a near 70% chance this El Niño will be a record event, with records going back to 1950…