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EL NINO WINTERS

This last winter there was lots of talk about El Nino winters and their effect on Chicago weather. What is an El Nino winter? How does it affect Chicago winters? How did it effect our last winter?

“El Nino” is a weather pattern where warming waters in the Pacific Ocean affect winter weather patterns, primarily along the Pacific coast and the southern United States. Those areas will typically see stormier weather during an El Nino winter while Chicago typically sees less snowfall and above average temperatures.

With above average snow totals for December, February, and the entire winter in general, what effect did El Nino have on Chicago this winter? As Tom Skilling has pointed out, only two-thirds of El Nino winters see fewer arctic outbreaks and snowfall. Chicago managed to escape really cold air with only one day logging temperatures below zero and above average temperatures scattered throughout March and April (as a footnote, the adversity of above average temperatures had a profound effect on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver). And while December and February were exceptionally snowy, January actually logged below average snow totals with only one major significant snow event towards the beginning of the month.

This previous winter El Nino’s effects were felt on Chicago, just not as widespread as in previous El Nino winters where we experienced both above average temperatures and below average snowfalls. We can expect to see El Nino winter conditions every three to seven years, so the next El Nino winter is not that far away.

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