January 2021 is favored to be wetter and warmer than average for much of the country.
The large, warm pool of ocean water in the Indian and west Pacific Oceans has been growing warmer and expanding in size since 1900, impacting the Madden Julian Oscillation and regional rainfall.
Between the weekly forecast and a seasonal outlook—and often less accurate than both—sit “sub-seasonal” weather predictions. In this profile, atmospheric scientist Libby Barnes talks about her work leading a NOAA task force whose members are trying to overcome the special challenges of forecasting over the 2-week to 2-month horizon.
Guest blogger Marybeth Arcodia explains her latest research into how the Madden-Julian Oscillation and ENSO sometimes enhance each other's influence on U.S. precipitation and other times cancel each other out.
Several times a year the MJO contributes to various extreme events in the United States, including Arctic air outbreaks during winter across the central and eastern portions of the country.