Cold High Temperatures In May? Blame El Nio

If you’ve been outside the past couple of days, you know temperatures have been on the chilly side.

ABC-7 talked to several people around town, asking them what they thought about the cold weather this past weekend.

“I don’t mind the cold weather we’ve been having – what I mind is the dust – (it) gets into your sinuses – (you) start sneezing,” said Ricardo Dominguez.

Some were caught off guard by the dip in temperatures.

“I had already put on my air conditioner on and didn’t have any heat, so we had the blankets on top,” said Martha Poe.

So why did we have a chilly weekend in the Borderland?

The weather phenomenon known as El Nino has given us below normal temperatures this past winter, even into spring.

As a result of El Nio, the jet stream dove south toward the Borderland this past weekend, pulling cold air behind it into our area.

The jet stream is a fast-moving ribbon of air aloft that separates cold air to the north from warm air to the south. This week, the jet stream will flatten out, meaning the cold air moves eastward.

The 2009-2010 El Nio is considered strong, but not the strongest we’ve ever seen.

And by this summer, El Nio is forecast to go away, implying a return to more normal conditions. So if you haven’t enjoyed the cold weather, don’t worry.

It’s going to be a hot week, and besides, July is just around the corner.