Jefferson County residents may see a warmer than usual summer this year, according to the most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. Less precipitation is predicted during the next 3-4 months, as well.
The NOAA report, issued on Apr. 11, showed southwest Montana stands a chance of experiencing warmer temperatures due to the current transition from a fading El Nino condition in the Pacific Ocean to a La Nina climate cycle. The result of the change is cooler ocean waters,which generally leads to warmer inland temperatures. The current El Nino effect is expected to break down fully between April and June, with the La Nina changes expected between June and August.
These climate changes in the ocean are monitored by NOAA, with information then shared with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which monitors heat-related health events. The data is used to create forecasts of where high-pressure conditions could create “heat domes” during the summer, creating dangerous health conditions as they stall over regions with unrelenting high temperatures. The CDC can then focus its relief efforts on those areas most significantly impacted.
