El Niño Prepared

 

 

 

 

California flooding, El Niño

California flooding, El Niño

 

 

El Niño’s warmer equatorial waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean is likely to bring some changes to the 2015-2016 winter in the U.S. According to the Los Angeles Times, this El Niño could be the most powerful on record because as of late November 2015 it is still growing, and water temperatures are warmer than ever recorded.  The effects of El Niño are expected to be concentrated in January, February, and March 2016.

 

 

What can we expect?

 

Southern States:  cooler and wetter than normal conditions; potential for floods, especially in Texas; higher potential for tornadoes; severe weather and big storms.

 

Middle States: flooding potential in Colorado and Oklahoma; higher potential for tornadoes

 

Northern States: warmer and drier than normal conditions; less snow and precipitation

 

Texas to Florida

Increased potential for severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes.

 

California

wetter; potential help in reducing drought conditions; increased potential for flooding and mudslides/landslides.  Higher amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevadas.

 

California has seen the effects of a higher-than-normal Pacific hurricane season during October 2015, Hurricane Patricia became the strongest eastern Pacific hurricane (Western Hemisphere) on record.  Resulting rains caused a bridge collapse on I-10. Huge amounts of hail near Lake Tahoe required snowplows to remove it.

 

 

mud_slide el nino

 

 

 

The Los Angeles Times published an excellent article with 28 steps to prepare for El Niño.   As always, is best to prepare before the storm arrives.  We highly recommend you read the entire article by Carol Cotta.  Remember, this article was written for California’s milder winters.  You may need to take further precautions for colder, harsher climates.

 

http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-el-nino-20151017-story.html

 

Here is an abbreviated version of the list (read the full article for the specifics)

  1. Fix your leaks
  2. Clean your gutters and downspouts
  3. Invest in a generator
  4. Install a sump pump
  5. Paint the exterior wood trim of your house
  6. Examine your window glazing compound for recaulking
  7. Check balcony and deck slopes
  8. Prevent an Ant invasion
  9. Store emergency repair materials

 

Auto

10. Consider new tires

11.  New wipers

12.  Check car lights

13.  Check the car battery

14. Check your brakes

 

Garden

15.  Check yard drainage

16.  Turn off watering system

17.  Consider rain barrels at downspouts.

18.  Plant winter vegetables in raised beds/elevetaed rows

19.  Loosen compacted soil

20.  Have trees checked

21.  Secure the yard fencing, furniture, outdoor potted plants

22. Materials to divert water

23.  Talk to your neighbors to be preventive

24. Consider flood insurance

25. Secure documents in the cloud or thumb drive

26. Have a disaster / emergency kit for home and car

27.  Learn about Flood Awareness Week in October

28.  Prepare now

 

 

 

Sources: FEMA, NOAA, latimes.com

 

prepandbeready.com

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *