1. Teleconnections

2. This winter We wondered…….. Why has this winter sucked so much?
The answer is TELECONNECTIONS!

4. What are teleconnections?
They are climate anomalies that relate to interactions between weather patterns throughout the whole world
Some rely on sea temperatures and some rely more on atmospheric conditions

5. Ever heard of….. El Nino? La Nina? North Atlantic Oscillation?
Arctic Oscillation?
PNA, PDO, MJO, AAO
These are all teleconnections

6. ENSO El Nino (warm)/La Nina (cold) events
Measures temperature anomalies in the Pacific Ocean between the coast of South America and Eastern Asia
El Nino is warmer than average off of Peru.
La Nina is cooler than average

7. La Nina Right now we are under a strong La Nina
Typically, the NW US has above average rainfall while Western Canada and Alaska are colder than average
The NE US is warmer than average and slightly wetter.
Lows tend to move farther to our west

8. La Nina SST

10. North Atlantic Oscillation
Takes the height measurements between Iceland and the Azores
Measures the strength of the Icelandic low and the Azores or Bermuda high

11. Positive phase
In positive phase, the Icelandic low is stronger than average and the Bermuda high is also stronger
The pressure gradient increases which increases the westerlies
This leads to warm, wet conditions in the NE US
Lows tend to go to our west under the positive phase, which is what we’ve been under this winter

12. NEGATIVE PHASE
POSITIVE PHASE

13. NAO Index

14. Arctic Oscillation

15. AO Index

16. Pacific Decadal Oscillation
20-30 year cycle
measures the difference between SST in the west and northeast Pacific

17. PDO Breakdown

18. ENSO-PDO Connection
Temperatures and precip extremes are higher when both the ENSO and PDO are in phase (like this winter)

19. Everything together Positive NAO La Nina Positive AO
Lows tend to go to our west, putting us in the warm sector of most lows
La Nina
Tend to have wetter winters, but warmer as well
Positive AO
Colder air stays to our North, weaker jet

20. AccuWeather