Did you hear? El Niño is here!

At long last, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announciated that the Pacific Ocean has finally crossed the El Niño threshold.  Not by much, mind you, but enough for them to declare that it's here.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  After all, I posted this article back in May.

NOAA Advisory:  El Niño arrives

Let's soak this part in:

" “Based on the persistent observations of above-average sea surface temperatures across the western and central equatorial Pacific Ocean and consistent pattern of sea level pressure, we can now say that El Niño is here,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, and ENSO forecaster. “Many climate prediction models show this weak El Niño continuing into summer.”

Forecasters say it is likely (50 to 60 percent chance) that El Niño conditions will continue through the summer. "

Let's hope the Kid sticks around for a few months and brings a bit of tropical moisture to California.