Severe storms and heat waves: The impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the current climate

How will the El Niño phenomenon affect the climate of your city?

Severe Storms Threaten Southeastern United States

More than 50 million people across the southeastern United States face the threat of severe storms Monday as widespread power outages have left nearly half a million people across the South in the dark, including some under sweltering record temperatures.

There is a slight level 2 of 5 risk of severe weather in parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast, including the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Savannah, Georgia. The main threats are damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Heat Wave Sweeps Across Southern US

A level 1 of 5 marginal risk stretches from central Texas to southern Florida and north to western North Carolina, leaving cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Tampa, Orlando, and Miami in Florida under the threat of large hail and damaging wind gusts.

• Around 40 children die each year in the US from heat stroke inside vehicles

The same system sparked a tornado in Mississippi late Sunday, causing multiple injuries and structural damage in Bay Springs and Louin, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said in a Facebook post that a shelter will open Monday morning “for all those displaced by the recent destruction caused by the tornadoes.”

Meanwhile, about 35 million people are under alerts for a scorching heat wave that has settled across much of Texas, Louisiana, southern New Mexico, and Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service.

Many are coping with the heat without air conditioning, as nearly 500,000 customers were without power in the South as of Monday morning, including more than 200,000 in Oklahoma and more than 90,000 in Texas and another 85,000 in Louisiana, according to PowerOutage.us.

The National Weather Service advises residents to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, drink plenty of water, and not leave children or pets in vehicles.

“In case we haven’t said that enough,” the Midland, Texas National Weather Service tweeted, it’s going to be “HOT. Try to spend as little time outdoors as possible, but if you must be outside, take frequent breaks in air conditioning, drink plenty of water and spend as much time in the shade as possible.

As the heat wave continues, more than 40 daily records across Texas could be broken or equaled this week. The worst of the heat is expected Monday through Wednesday.

The combination of temperature and humidity, or the heat index, could climb to 45 and 50 degrees Celsius in cities like Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, and Dallas.

Record-Breaking Heat

This Sunday several daily heat records have already been broken. Del Rio, Texas, registered a temperature of 44 degrees this Sunday, breaking a previous daily record of 42 degrees set in 2011. Austin Camp Mabry, Texas, tied its record of 41 degrees set a dozen years ago and McAllen, Texas, reported a record 40 degrees.

“Temperatures in the 40s will not only rival daily high temperature records for the nation, but could tie or break existing records,” the National Weather Service said. “There will be little relief overnight with lows in the upper 21 and 26.”

Cities across the South, some still cleaning up from last week’s storms, are preparing for hot weather by opening cooling centers.

The city of Houston will have refrigeration centers open again from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. this Monday as the city prepares for high temperatures. Caddo Parish, in Louisiana, has opened more cooling centers as the parish continues to deal with power outages and storm cleanup.

The New Orleans Emergency Preparedness Campaign is working with the New Orleans Fire Department to set up hydration stations that provide water and sun protection this Sunday and Monday.

Continued Storm Activity

Meanwhile, there were more than 70 storm reports across the Southeast on Sunday, including six reports of tornadoes, the majority in central Mississippi, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Hail 2 inches wide or larger was also reported Sunday in Hunt, Texas, and Kerrville, Texas.

On Monday, the threat of excessive rainfall moves east into the southeast of the country, bringing the threat of thunderstorms and flooding over parts of the Southeast, the southern Mid-Atlantic, and the southern Appalachian Mountains.

CNN’s Jamiel Lynch, Mitchell McCluskey, and Devon Sayers contributed to this report.

The content discusses the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the climate of various cities in the southeastern United States. It highlights that over 50 million people in the region are facing the threat of severe storms, with power outages affecting half a million people. The risk of severe weather, including damaging wind gusts, large hail, and tornadoes, is particularly high in cities such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Savannah. Additionally, a heatwave is sweeping across the southern US, posing a threat to cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Austin, and Tampa. The article also mentions that around 40 children die in the US each year due to heatstroke in vehicles. The severe weather has already caused a tornado in Mississippi, resulting in injuries and property damage. The National Weather Service advises residents to stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and not leave children or pets in vehicles.

How is the El Niño phenomenon impacting the climate in the southeastern United States and what cities are at higher risk for severe weather as a result?

The El Niño phenomenon, characterized by warmer-than-average temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, can have various effects on the climate in the southeastern United States. Some of the impacts include increased rainfall, cooler temperatures, and stronger storms.

During El Niño events, the southeastern US experiences an increase in rainfall, particularly during the winter and early spring months. This can lead to an elevated risk of flooding in low-lying areas and river basins. The increased precipitation can also contribute to soil erosion and disrupt agricultural activities.

In terms of temperature, El Niño tends to bring cooler conditions to the southeastern states. This can result in reduced heating demand during the winter, but it may also impact certain crops that are sensitive to colder temperatures.

Moreover, El Niño can influence the formation and intensity of storms. The southeastern US may experience an increased likelihood of severe weather events such as tornadoes and thunderstorms. These storms can pose risks to public safety and cause damage to buildings and infrastructure.

While the impacts of El Niño can be significant, it is important to note that the effects vary across different locations within the southeastern United States. However, cities located in coastal regions like Miami, Tampa, and Charleston may be at higher risk for severe weather due to the combination of El Niño-driven storms and their coastal exposure.