Polar Vortex Part 2? ‘Godzilla’ El Niño May Bring The Northeast Winter Storms To Remember

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the world could be expecting one of the strongest El Niños in recorded history. Does this mean a "Godzilla" El Niño could bring a polar vortex part two to the Northeast?

According to Slate.com, meteorologist Eric Holthaus predicts that the "further rounds of extreme cold air outbreaks" are likely for the northeast, but especially for the Southeast this winter.

However, Holthaus writes that this year's winter "almost certainly won't be as cold as last year in the Northeast."

But don't celebrate yet. The infamous Nor'easters will make an appearance, "bringing a return of heavy snowstorms."

Holthaus adds that the "Godzilla" El Niño - which will likely bring an increase of wintertime moisture along the East Coast - is a "recipe" for heavy snow, though temperature aren't predicted to be as cold as the last two winters in New York.

In other words: polar vortex part two? No. But there is sure to be a lot of snowfall this winter in the Northeast.

According to Business Insider, this year, forecasters recorded sea surface temperatures more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above average across the east central Pacific Ocean. Those temperatures have been recorded only three times in the past 65 years, and all three preceded strong El Niño events.

"Since March, above-normal sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Pacific have continued to increase," Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, said on a conference call for journalists, Business Insider reporters. "We're predicting this El Niño could be among the strongest El Niños in the historical record."

"This definitely has the potential of being the Godzilla El Niño," added Bill Patzert, a climatologist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. 

Tags
Polar Vortex
el nino
Northeast
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