El Nino vs. Snowfall-Updated  The Climate Prediction Center
(www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov) recently came out with an update on the
recent El Nino that is occurring in the Pacific and the
resulting impacts that it will have across the lower 48. The
forecast for the strength of the El Nino in the eastern Pacific
if pretty much in line with the previous forecasts with having
it reach “moderate” strength with Sea Surface Temperature
anomalies of around 1.5 degrees and lasting through the winter
and into the middle of spring. This generally means that our
temperatures over the winter season will have the best chance of
being at or above normal. In terms of precipitation, it tends to
lead to drier conditions for portions of the Midwest. The main
question that everyone asks is, “Well, does that mean that we’re
not going to have a snowy winter?” Recent trends during El Nino
years say that we won’t have a snowy winter. Here are some stats
at the two climate sites in northern Illinois at Chicago and
Rockford and how much snow