Although we experienced a warm Christmas this year, El Nino’s effect continues to demonstrate its aftermath in the Lone Star State. It has dramatically decreased the Lone Star State’s hurricane season, but it will likely bring obvious cooler temperatures, but much wetter weather to Texans.
In a typical El Niño, the jet stream — narrow bands of high level wind that affect weather patterns — splits into two distinct branches, a northern jet and a southern jet. The southern jet steers Pacific moisture across the southern part of the United States, reinforcing it with gulf moisture over Texas. This means more and more heavy rain.
El Nino’s pattern of stronger than normal weather conditions is expected to continue at least until February 2016 with noticeable outbreaks. Texas might see heavy rains, the worst being in eastern Texas and the central Gulf Coast region. As these storms move through, they will drag significant cold front episodes with them.
Northern Texas is predicted to have more ice and snow than normal while cold air will push as far south as the Rio Grande Valley. In places like Corpus Christie, residents can expect lots of gray skies, drizzle, and low clouds in this year’s winter months. Overall, we are in for a dreary winter in Texas.