Wetter, wilder winter predicted

September 7, 2005

Forget the mild winter of last year.

Oregon's climatologist, George Taylor, said that this winter could be a "doozy," given that the weather pattern so far resembles 1995.

The winter of 1995-'96 had a powerful wind storm in December, two ice storms and the massive "100-year flood" in February, which closed schools, isolated communities and caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

Climate forecasters make predictions by examining recent sea-surface temperatures, regional climate patterns and even Atlantic Ocean hurricanes.

"That doesn't mean the outcomes will be similar," Taylor said. "Let's just say things are leaning in the direction of extreme events and that an active year seems likely."

Taylor said the trend for this fall and winter appears to be warmer and wetter than normal throughout the state.

The annual forecast is at http://www.ocs.oregonstate.edu/.

-- Beth Casper

 

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