El Ni–o, the tropical weather phenomenon originating in the South Pacific, is gaining strength and is expected to cast its heavier-than-normal precipitation shadow on California this winter through 2003, according to the planet's top climatologists.

Heavy snowfall for Lake Tahoe?

The magnitude of this year's event may turn out to be less than other El Ni–o years such as 1982 and 1986, but chances are likely Lake Tahoe will notice a bump in the level of precipitation.

"If El Ni–o is usually a friend to skiers, then it should be a good ski season this year," said Kermond, who will take readings 900 miles east of Tahiti to monitor the event onboard NOAA's weather research
boat, the Nuku Hiva.

At 81 degrees Fahrenheit, the water temperatures taken in the central Pacific west of the Galapagos are between 2 to 3 degrees warmer than normal -- a classic symptom of El Ni–o, a climatologist said.

Increased precipitation welcome

Tourism and water officials await strong snow seasons every year in the hopes they will fuel the economic livelihood of Tahoe and bring a much-needed snowpack to a region that has suffered from drought in the
last few years.

"We have to, at any given time, meet the demand of the (peak) population," South Tahoe Public Utility District spokesman Dennis Cocking said.

The water supply concern is accentuated by the time of year peak demand occurs. In the summer, more people come to town, they water the landscape more and use more water inside.

"Another dry winter is not going to hurt us. Even during the height of the drought in the '80s, the static level in the wells only went down 3 feet," Cocking said of the drought period between 1984 and 1987

[Thanks to Tony Lyle who spotted this in the Tahoe Daily Tribune]

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