Insights from our El Niño Webinar for Electric Cooperatives and Utilities

4-minute read

In this article:

• Understand the El Niño impact on energy infrastructures.
• Learn emerging trends in weather patterns influenced by El Niño.
• Access to resources including Clearsight’s “Weathering the Storm” El Niño Webinar.

As we navigate ever-changing weather patterns, understanding the impact of El Niño on utilities and electric cooperatives becomes increasingly important. Along with Constellation’s Chief Meteorologist Dave Ryan, we hosted multiple sessions of our webinar, “Weathering the Storm: El Niño Insights for Utilities and Electric Cooperatives.” 

In the webinar, we discuss the topic of El Niño, its influence on weather patterns across different regions in the U.S., and how these patterns could potentially affect electric cooperatives and utilities around the country.

Understanding El Niño

El Niño, a weather phenomenon that occurs every two to five or six years, is characterized by above-normal water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. As Dave Ryan discusses in the webinar, we are currently transitioning from a La Niña phase, which has been in effect for the past three years, to an El Niño phase. 

Dave Ryan’s summer report and August forecast indicate that we are on the cusp of a moderate El Niño, with anomalies averaging about a degree above normal throughout the basin. 

Impact on Weather Patterns

In the webinar, Dave Ryan discusses this summer, where we’ve seen pockets of below-normal temperatures across the mid-Atlantic region, some in the central states, and down into the Southwestern part of the country. As we move forward, Dave expects the heat to shift more towards the western states, with a warm, humid, wet conclusion to the month in the East.

Dave’s El Niño forecasts, which we explore in more detail in the webinar, aim to provide information on expected weather patterns to help electric cooperatives and utilities make informed decisions about resource allocation.

Emerging Trends and Abnormalities

According to Dave Ryan, El Niño is associated with possible drought conditions across the northern United States, particularly in the Midwest, Texas, and the Northwest. This could potentially intensify the fire season in the Pacific Northwest and Texas. 

Additionally, Ryan explains that El Niño tends to suppress tropical activity by providing more wind shear and dry air in the tropical Atlantic. However, above-normal water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean could lead to the development of intense hurricanes.

Electric cooperatives and utilities should be aware of these trends and monitor the forecast for their region in order to adequately prepare for any potential weather-related impacts. Additionally, it is important to consider how these large-scale weather patterns can affect local operations, and how best to prepare for any potential adverse effects. 

Don’t Miss the Webinar 

As we approach the El Niño fall and winter, it’s important to pay attention to the strength of El Niño, as it can dictate weather patterns for the upcoming winter season. Among the intricacies of El Niño and its potential consequences, the bedrock of our resilience lies in informed readiness. Constellation Clearsight is here as a trusted resource and inspection solution for electric cooperatives and utilities.

Related: The Crucial Role of Vegetation Management in Electric Utility Wildfire Risk Prevention