Agricultural News
News on 6 Meteorologist Travis Meyer Says El Niño Bringing Winter Storms Next 60 Days
Fri, 11 Dec 2015 17:11:38 CST
El Nino can be blamed for the wettest year on record in Oklahoma. The state just came off the second wettest November on record and earlier this year recorded the wettest May on record. Travis Meyer, Chief Meteorologist at KOTV News on 6 in Tulsa, said it's been interesting to see the moisture concentrated in May and November.
"That is a cyclical nature of El Nino, just a few shifts, but it's generally a very warm pattern, a very wet pattern and that's pretty much what we have been dealing with," Meyer said.
In looking at the next 60 days, Meyer said it's going to be nerve racking. Oklahoma could get some of those arctic invasions and if they hit during a major storm system, he said that combination could bring winter storms. While that's a normal event, he said this year the storms are bigger and there is a lot more moisture available. That has Meyer concerned for ranchers dealing with the strongest El Nino ever.
"We've never been at this level of an El Nino, never this powerful of a storm system, so this is new territory for everybody," Meyer said.
In looking at the weather outlook, Meyer said the state is getting into its coldest time of year now through February. The greatest amount of weather stress will occur over the next 60 days. The spring could be fairly wet. He said most of the El Nino effects start to show decay around April, May, June, then it drops off.
Oklahoma's weather pattern could go from one extreme to another. Meyer said the region could see a "sling shot" effect, where it goes from El Nino to La Nina. That would bring the state drier conditions, but also more winter weather. He said this causes sharper, arctic air invasions into Oklahoma and Texas. Oklahoma could get a transition year for El Nino to weaken, then return the next year with La Nina. Meyer said switching to a La Nina weather pattern looks to be possible in 2017.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays interviewed Meyer at the Tulsa Farm Show. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to the interview.
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