January 21, 2002

9:15 AM

US Agency Says El Nino Pattern Emerging
Vanuatu decided this a few days earlier, and told its residents to start conserving water (1).
    In 1997, a major El Nino pattern created droughts in the Pacific followed by floods toward the end of the year (1, 2). I think one can reasonably attribute fires in Australia to El Nino influenced dry spells and high temperatures (1). If you care to make your own predictions, the number to watch is the SOI.
posted by rschram (4 comments total)

I hate that bastard. Can't we do something about him?
posted by machaus at 9:22 AM on January 21, 2002

BBC: "I've rather enjoyed [being confused with El Nino in the phonebook], I'm thick skinned ... I'm an old Navy man so I like to trade barbs with the people that call."

How do those barbs go? Goddamn you, you warming of the central and eastern Pacific that leads to a major shift in weather patterns across the Pacific. Go to hell.

Ha ha, You old shoe. Yer mother wears combat boots.
posted by rschram at 9:35 AM on January 21, 2002

"I am EL NINO. All other tropical storms must bow before EL NINO. Yo soy El Nino. For those of you who don't habla espanol, El Nino is Spanish for... THE NINO."
posted by tomorama at 10:45 AM on January 21, 2002

My baby's got an awesome Southern Oscillation.

Al Nino has the same problem as Al Gezzera.

And all I know is that El Nino causes such things like Chicago not getting snow until the middle of January. I have no idea why the people on the other side of the world are concerned.
posted by dhartung at 11:18 AM on January 21, 2002