Just over a month ago, El Nino was considered to be a borderline weak to moderate event but since then,  it has undergone intensification with further warming of the Central and Eastern Pacific waters.

The current El Nino is now on the border between a moderate to strong event and further intensification is possible.

Based on observational and model data, El Niño is expected to remain moderate/strong through Winter 2009-2010!

And with El Nino comes the increased threat of snow and or ice storms across the state.

El Nino winters have had an history of producing major snows and or ice storms in the state.  In a matter of fact, snow and or ice storms have been recorded- 4 out of the last 5 El Nino events.

While snow has occurred outside of El Nino years, major ice storms have been more common during El Nino.  The last significant ice storm to affect the state was in 2003, when a quarter to one half inch of ice buckled trees and power lines across portions of Northwestern Mississippi.

And even before the ice storm of 2003, there was the major ice storm of 1998 (El Nino year) and the historic and devastating ice storm of 1994 (El Nino year)  that brought North Mississippi to its knees with widespread flooding and ice accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, which is considered one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the state and the worst ice storm since 1951, which was also during an El Nino year!!

This is not just the trend in Mississippi, this is a trend across the South during El Nino winters!!

So if we use past trends as our guide for what to expect during an El Nino winter, one thing is for sure, snow storms and especially ice storms are more of a threat to the state and the South- than in any other winter without the presence of El Nino!