Weather Warnings
New weather patterns have the globe on high alert
By: Ariel Inman
Waves crash against the shore, beating back the solid sand until it gives way to it’s demands. Water flows in rushing, tumbling rivers down highways, covering the ground in a thick blanket of rapidly flowing debris. Darkness falls, coaxing forward the creatures of the night who start up a symphony of nature’s playlist. The storm moves slowly across the landscape leaving the vegetation fresh, lush, and revived. When the sunlight brushes its warm rays across the land the next morning, memories of yesterday’s cold weather is forgotten as temperatures peak at 80 degrees.
The unpredictable weather that is occurring at this time of year can be attributed to the weather pattern known as El Nino. El Nino can alter weather patterns by fluctuating temperatures, changing the precipitation type and amount, shifting currents and ocean temperatures, and it can also inadvertently cause fires, droughts, floods, and unrest. However, this fluctuation isn't all bad. El Nino can prevent tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic, offer milder winters for northern regions, and replenish water supplies in southwestern regions.
“El Nino generally disturbs the customary trends like whether it will be warmer than usual or colder than usual,” Terry Mize, current Earth and Space Science teacher, said, “In the South we’re just used to weather being very unpredictable anyway.”
Mize thinks that the recent weather and unusual temperatures can both be contributed to El Nino.
“They’re predicting that January is going to be colder than usual but December was warmer than usual,” Mize said, “The week before Christmas it was unseasonably warm. Because it was unseasonably warm, then when the next cold front came through that’s why there were all the storms and I think that was a direct effect of El Nino.”
Storms are currently slamming the west coast as adverse weather conditions are being pushed inland by El Nino.
“I think that it’s going to affect quite a bit of the United States with crazy weather patterns,” Alicia Howatt, former Earth and Space Science teacher, said, “The water is warmer so it’s causing unpredictable weather patterns that we’re not prepared for, more storms. You see us having tornados at random times of the year, and I think more hurricanes.”
As nature runs its course, people in its path just have to weather the storm.
“Be aware of your current weather conditions and what’s going on,” Howatt said, “I think you just have to have a weather alert app or watch the weather on the news. Just keep up with current weather conditions so that you’re always prepared.”
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