SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — “Super El Niño” has been a buzzword in the weather world as a very strong El Niño is setting up, and the odds of a record-breaking El Niño increase with every update and is now more likely than not.
While “Super” isn’t officially a recognized El Niño classification, the potential for a “very strong” El Niño could bring super interesting weather across the country.
What is El Niño?
In a typical year, the easterly trade winds push the sun-warmed sea surface water toward East Asia, which allows the cold deep ocean water to upwell and fill in along the West Coast.
However, about every 2-7 years the typical pattern breaks down and the trade winds weaken. Without the prominent trade winds pushing the warm sea surface water away from the East Pacific, it allows the warm water to continue building along the American West Coast.
When East Pacific sea surface temperatures run at least 0.5°C above average for a period of 3 or more months, we are in an El Niño. When those temperatures exceed 2.0°C above average, we call that a “very strong” El Niño – or in catchier unofficial terms, a “Super” El Niño…