| The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | | | | Indonesia. Temperature and precipitation impacts |
| (NOAA) has released an article about El Niño | | | | over the United States are typically weak during the |
| weather on July 9th, 2009. El Niño, the periodic | | | | Northern Hemisphere Summer and early Fall, and |
| warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific | | | | generally strengthen during the late Fall and Winter. El |
| waters, occurs on average every two to five years | | | | Niño can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane |
| and typically lasts about 12 months. This confirms | | | | activity by increasing the vertical wind shear over the |
| that the start, if not all, of the 2009/2010 ski season | | | | Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic Ocean. |
| in Winter Park will continue the El Niño weather | | | | For Winter Park, the meteorologists typically say with |
| pattern. What does this mean to us as skiers? | | | | an El Niño there is abundant early snow |
| El Niño's impacts depend on a variety of | | | | followed by a dry period and then lots of spring |
| factors, such as intensity and extent of ocean | | | | snow. However, here is a reaction from the last El |
| warming, and the time of year. Contrary to popular | | | | Niño. On Dec 29, 2006 this was written: |
| belief, not all effects are negative. On a positive side, | | | | "Looking out of my window today after pushing |
| El Niño helps to suppress Atlantic hurricane | | | | snow for a week I would say they forecast a little |
| activity. In the United States, it typically brings | | | | wrong. We have had more than 30 inches of snow in |
| beneficial winter precipitation to the arid Southwest, | | | | the past 24 hours - about to open a ski resort in my |
| less wintry weather across the North, and a reduced | | | | back yard." |
| risk of Florida wildfires. | | | | This would be right at the time they were calling for |
| Expected El Niño impacts during | | | | the dry period. |
| August-October 2009 include enhanced precipitation | | | | So let's do our little a little snow dance and hope El |
| over the central and west-central Pacific Ocean and | | | | Niño dumps big and often here at the Winter |
| the continuation of drier than average conditions over | | | | Park Resort. |