Wonder what the temps will look like?

The NOAA is predicting slightly warmer than normal temps (on average) for my area:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions//multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.php
This is the usual product of an El Nino event: http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/
I am taking more risks this winter in decisions of what to dig and bring inside vs. leave in the ground and mulch heavily on this basis. Sure we'll have a few cold snaps, but I am counting on them being fewer and lasting fewer days than in a typical winter.
--Erik

It's a tough call between the regular cold and el nino cool and much wetter. I guess I'd take cooler and wetter since everything is covered anyways.

Bill

But doesn't El Nino take a few years to build up strength?

Cooler and wetter is good, as long as Siberian lows stay where they belong.
In Siberia.

I'd give my gardening shoes to have five years of mild winters just to see what could survive with minimal protection until plants were tough enough and old enough to fend for themselves.
i.e. two zones better (*dream*).

Barb

El Nino events can build over weeks to months.
Here is a readable update from the Australian meteorology bureau: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/
It was published Oct. 28 and so is as current as I could find.
I am still not convinced Oklahoma will be affected. It takes quite a large El Nino event to be noticed up here.

Great link, thanks!

This excerpt is very encouraging:

Leading climate models suggest tropical ocean temperatures will remain above El Niño thresholds until at least early 2010.

Maybe el Nino will be large enough for Oklahoma to feel 😉
Barb

A warmer winter than last year!

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=winteroutlook2009_25_11_2009?ref=ccbox_homepage_top_title

Barb

It`s about time we had a warm winter. The only problem is all the rain and flooding the Coast gets during El nino events.

John

According to the original post, looks like NOAA screwed up big time. November was one of the wettest here.

I agree Barrie, I am sick of all the rain, although fairly mild temps.
Looks like this week will be drier and cooler with highs around 8C and lows close to freezing.

Same forecast for here too Wes. When the frost arrives it'll be the first of the season.
We do not need a repeat of last year!

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie
This winter should be quite "interesting",and I would bet NOTHING like the last 2.
We finally had out first month(Nov +7F) with above avg high temps.Of course Oct was -7!
I hope this is the beginning of a trend out of below normal weather here! 😐

My father was telling me he hear this was one of the warmest Novembers on record. There was a lot of temps in the 60's and 70's not sure how many degrees above average it was. Looks like my washies are really getting covered this weekend, mid 20's next week. Oh well, it was a good run Dec 6th isn't bad for washies in Massachusetts after all.

Bill

Nice job Bill
You can find that info(weather underground) on the calender page,(at the top)I will post yours tomorrow for you if you don't see it.