Fun Facts

Jet Stream | El Niño | La Niña 

A jet stream is a narrow band of strong high altitude winds that “steers” high and low pressure systems along, and sometimes into areas they normally are not strong in (NWS). This can create many weather phenomena across the US. The jet stream may dip dramatically south, almost to the equator, or north into the Arctic. Two major weather patterns—El Niño (little boy) and La Niña (little girl)—may be carried by the jet stream and cause severe unpredicted weather changes that may last for 9-12 months (NOAA).

El Niño occurs every 3-7 years when weak Pacific trade winds allow warm waters to drift from Australia to the coast of North and South America, triggering massive rains. The huge mass of warm water sets off chain reactions in the jet stream, affecting the winter months’ weather patterns across the globe in the Northern Hemisphere. El Niño can allow for heavy rains in Canada down to the southern tip of the US, also allowing for unusually mild winter temperatures throughout the country (Quora).

La Nina is the opposite for it refers to the cooling of water temperatures in equatorial central and eastern sections of the Pacific, thus suppressing the rain-producing clouds and dry conditions result. In 2009, La Niña was thought to be the cause of a world wide drought, causing a huge agricultural crisis. The colder Pacific waters push the jet stream north, causing cooler temperatures there and warmer temperatures in the south. La Niña may also create a more active hurricane season (C. Brokemann).