The El Niño Phenomenon continues to make itself felt in the region with constant rains. In this case, for this Tuesday, the National Meteorological Service issued a yellow alert that covers the 17 departments of the province of Entre Ríos.
“The area will be affected by storms of varying intensity, some locally strong. They will be accompanied by gusts, intense electrical activity, occasional hail falls and especially abundant falls of water in short periods,” it was warned.
“Accumulated precipitation values are estimated between 30 and 50 mm, which may be exceeded from time to time,” it was added.
Recommendations for the yellow alert
- Don’t take out the trash. Remove objects that prevent water from draining.
- Avoid outdoor activities.
- Do not take shelter near trees and power poles that may fall.
- To minimize the risk of being struck by lightning, do not stay on beaches, rivers, lagoons or pools.
- Be alert to the possible fall of hail.
- Get informed from the authorities. Always have an emergency backpack ready with a flashlight, radio, documents and telephone.
What El Niño means in the climate
ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation), commonly known as “El Niño”, is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs with a frequency that varies between 2 and 7 years. Its effects are felt worldwide and its impacts are diverse depending on the region and the season of the year in which it manifests itself.
According to the report, sea water temperature anomalies in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are consistent with an El Niño phase. Additionally, a weakening of the trade winds was observed in the equatorial Pacific since mid-July, suggesting a connection between the atmosphere and the ocean. The Southern Oscillation Index maintained negative values, which are characteristic of a warm phase.
In what months of the year will El Niño persist?
For the September, October and November quarter of 2023, forecasts indicate a 99% probability that El Niño conditions will persist.
“Sea water temperature anomalies in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are consistent with a Niño phase. A weakening of the trade winds was observed in the equatorial Pacific since mid-July, which would indicate that the atmosphere began to couple with the ocean. The Southern Oscillation Index maintained negative values, characteristic of a warm phase,” the report stated.
The El Niño phenomenon in Argentina
The El Niño phenomenon has been recorded in Argentina since the 1960s to the present day, with a total of 21 ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) events in the spring season. These extensive statistics provide a deep understanding of the climatic behavior in our country during El Niño conditions.
In general, during springs influenced by El Niño, an increase in both the frequency and intensity of precipitation is observed in much of the central-eastern and northern region of Argentina, especially in the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes and north of Santa Fe.
These provinces are notable for their close relationship with the El Niño phenomenon. In fact, according to historical data, seven of the ten wettest springs in this region occurred in years when El Niño was present.
What does the arrival of El Niño imply in Argentina?
These statistics highlight the significant implications that ENSO has on the region’s precipitation, which generally results in seasons with increased risk of flooding, river flooding, intense storms, and other adverse climate impacts.
It is important to mention that the springs affected by El Niño also tend to be rainier in the province of Buenos Aires, in the south of the Litoral and in the northwest of Patagonia. However, in other regions of Argentina, such as the western Pampas Húmeda, El Niño springs often experience below-normal rainfall, representing a completely opposite scenario.
