El Nino Update

ENSO, or El Nino Southern Oscillation is still in a negative phase as of late April. That is, there is still an El Nino occuring. Warmer than average water is still sitting near the equator off the western South America coast, which is typical of El Nino. But many forecast models have that changing to near neutral (normal) conditions by the end of the summer and, perhaps, to La Nina conditions by this fall. For stateline residents, that means a greater likelihood of a colder winter in 2010-11.