Malibu’s lush green hillsides are a welcome site after the devastating Woolsey Fire. However, to achieve those neon hues that are brightening up our local landscape, we have had to endure a powerful El Niño weather pattern that will persist at least through February and could conceivably last through even June experts predict.
According to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is a 75-80 percent chance of an El Niño developing by February, and judging by the deluge of water we were hit with this month, El Niño is not only here, he’s planning on sticking around too.
Local meteorologist Jason Daniel Farhang has been watching weather models that suggest that a new pattern is just around the corner
“Latest solutions continues end dry weather by Superbowl 53! Southern CA needs to pay close attention for February 2019. Trending SuperBowl Of Storms in development.” wrote Farhang on his FB page … “… aggressive February storm continues to trend. Late next weekend atmospheric conditions will come into sync with return of rains for our region. Timing: February 3 – 8, 2019
Farhang explains the El Niño pattern weaver re currently experiencing more in-depth;
“We are in a classic El Niño weather pattern, the warming of Equatorial Pacific off coast of Peru and our coast. Warming off our coast 5 – 10 degrees warmer. Solutions since last week have been trending very wet and possibly above normal. The moisture is possibly coming from Hawaii origin. However this El Niño pattern is acting different. Most of the storms have been coming from the polar jetstream not the subtropical jetstream. That’s why we have a colder air-masses driving into U.S and Alaska. Placement of our high pressure has been acting erratic.”
Farhang weighed in on weather systems ready to strike our coastline; “Big PACIFIC Storms are waiting for February. Current Atmospheric conditions ready showing impressive system lurking waiting to strike Southern CA.”
In other words, get ready to be hit with another wave of wet weather. Also keep in mind that El Niño patterns typically start around Thanksgiving and can last all the way until June.
Woolsey fire burn areas are particularly at rick for extensive damage from these storm as we saw when the area was soaked by multiples systems passing through this month.
Many neighborhoods in Malibu are at significant risk for mudslides and in the path of debris flow. Be prepared for the possibility of more evacuations if you are in those high risk areas.
We’ll have more updates on these weather patterns as we get closer to Super Bowl weekend.
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