You may have heard talk about a possible “super” El Niño developing later this year, so what does that mean for us here in Arkansas?An El Niño occurs Pacific Ocean near the equator is warming more than usual. When that happens, it shifts how weather patterns move across the world. Think of it like influencing the path storms follow. When that path changes, our weather here in Arkansas can change too.
For us, El Niño usually means a wetter and slightly cooler pattern, especially in the fall and winter. Storms tend to track farther south, which puts us in a more active zone for rain. That can help with drought, but it can also increase the risk for flooding and stronger storms at times.
If this turns into a stronger or “super” El Niño event, which would mostly impact the later part of this year and into next, these type of trends can stand out even more. It does not control every single day, but it can tilt the odds toward more frequent rain and a busier storm pattern across Arkansas as we head into the colder months…