Does Drought Return?
February 6, 2007 El Nino Fizzles.doc El Nino Fizzles.pdf By Gary McManus, Climatologist Oklahoma Climatological Survey NORMAN – Last fall’s forecast of El Niño by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) seemed to spell good things for Oklahoma. After all, past El Niño episodes have at times brought the state healthy rain and snow totals. Following the catastrophic drought of the previous couple of years, including last winter’s disastrous wildfires and failed wheat crop, any help would be greatly appreciated. And sure enough, Mother Nature responded with the 10th wettest December-January period on record in Oklahoma, dating back to 1895. The Panhandle enjoyed its wettest such period ever. The latest El Niño forecasts are far different, however. The CPC now predicts that the ocean temperatures in the pacific will revert back to normal, spelling an end to the latest El Niño episode. “Any El Niño-related effects over North America should be minimal during the remainder of the winter season,”
