Nice La Nina, isnt' it?

[hurricanetrack]

Take a look at that:

http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/EPS/SST/d ... 4.2007.gif

Very nice La Nina, huh? Wonder how long it will stick around...and look at the Atlantic. Most of the Atlantic is above normal on a very broad scale. Nothing really jumps out and grabs you like that La Nina but the Atlantic sure has a large area of it with somewhat above normal SSTs. But if you look very close, notice that the highest anomalies are NORTH of 20 degrees in latitude. Don't know if it means anything but hey, we might see some nice sized Atlantic gales this winter and spring.

[RL3AO]

Wow. A little black spot (-5.0C) near 90W.

[hurricanetrack]

Here is a hint for 2008:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/p ... SSTMon.gif

Could start off the season still below normal. We'll see. Too far out to really think about but why wait? June 1, 2008 is just an entire NCAA basketball season plus about 60 days away. Kind of makes the time go by....

Seriously though, it will be quite fascinating to see how CSU treats this current solid La Nina and what they think about it come December. I know, the 2007 season is not over yet, but even if 6 hurricanes had hit the U.S. by this time, there are some who would be wondering about the possibilities for 2008 at about this same time. Happens every year no matter what the season is like. With things being slow lately, just makes it a tad more intriguing to think that 2008 might START with the La Nina already in place.

['CaneFreak]

10-4 there Mark. Yep, I am already looking forward to next year. We could still see some nice systems this year. We all just have to be patient. But yes, this is a very nice La Nina that should keep us relatively warm this year. Could start out a little on the cool side, but then I think it should warm right up. Overall, this winter looks to be much above normal for the continental US. That should keep our heating oil prices down and keep the economy from going any further down the drain tubes. Nice write up. This could end up being a moderate to strong ENSO event lasting through the beginning of next year and we could see ENSO neutral conditions for the rest of next season which gets me pretty excited. WE SHALL SEE.

[hurricanetrack]

Wow. A little black spot (-5.0C) near 90W.

Looks blue on my monitor. Probably just a whale fart.

[brunota2003]

Wow. A little black spot (-5.0C) near 90W.

Looks blue on my monitor. Probably just a whale fart.

!!!

Speaking of Nor' Easters, here is the 00 UTC GFS 108 hours out:

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod ... n_108l.gif

Gee, that low pressure look familar? Like...maybe something interesting? Nah...No way we have a small Nor' Easter here in October! Also of interest:

http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/nwprod ... n_372l.gif

Granted it is 372 hours out, but did anyone order a MASSIVE East Coast high? That thing is there from like, at least 312 hours to 384 hours and beyond! That is at least the second 00 UTC run in a row that has shown a massive high on the East Coast. Bleh...I thought this was fall? That'll make it feel more like August!

[JonathanBelles]

Wow. A little black spot (-5.0C) near 90W.

Looks blue on my monitor. Probably just a whale fart.

if it was a whale fart, wouldnt it be warm?

[hurricanetrack]

But it would upwell some cooler water.

[Toadstool]

Wow. A little black spot (-5.0C) near 90W.

Looks blue on my monitor. Probably just a whale fart.

I think the black spot is the Galapagos Islands... all the other land masses are black as well.

[Category 5]

I am already looking forward to next year.

This year isn't over yet.

[Downdraft]

Think I'll go watch paint dry have fun.

[AussieMark]

this La Nina has been a late starter also. Kinda like the 2006/07 El Nino was. In that the ssts never got to the required levels for some 3 months later than usual.

[Frank2]

It really has been - with all due respect to the researchers I worked for at the HRD, it just shows how much is not known...

[hcane27]

I believe that it points out just how fragile the entire process is, and as I have said before, I think we will see that the most difficult times to "forecast" are those that are "transition periods" ..... ie .... with an el Nino or la Nina "in progress" it seems that the effects are much more pronounced and definable than when either of them is waxing or waning ....