Browning Hills to Lush Green Valleys

Browning Hills to Lush Green Valleys

By Riva Rainer and Hannah Riggins, 4-5 School News Team

“The day the trade-winds grew weak and their icy breath ran dry, unfathomable darkness lurked and pondered upon the United States.  It painted the sky an envious grey, and casted a honeyed sheen upon all. Tears sliced down the clouds’ faces as they roared in anger. Electrons raced down, generating powerful bolts. Like a rip in the inky night, it forked down silently to the unsuspecting ground in a flash. BANG, goes the thunderous boom, always calling its warning too late. The El Nino had begun.”  

-Hannah Riggins

The El Nino Begins

The term ”El Nino” has been virtually unknown outside of the scientific community, but not this upcoming winter. Weather experts have informed San Diego city leaders that there is a probability of 95 percent chance for an El Nino to occur in the upcoming winter. Theoretically, if the El Nino were to occur, it would bring an especially wet winter to the region, and cause an abundance of damage. Flooding is also a concern, and this may damage the flood surges.

       The upcoming El Nino is predicted to be one of the strongest and most brutal compared to an event that occurred in 1997. This occurs when the trade winds grow weaker and the water becomes warmer in the pacific ocean. The cold water doesn’t have the ability to reach the surface. The storms are expected to start in late December and go on until March, is what the prevalent information tells us. There can possibly be a weak, medium, strong or extreme El Nino. Viewing the current meteorology patterns in the weather, we are awaiting a strong event. There are 3 main elements needed to cause an El Nino. These include air, water, and soil. Of course, the atmosphere is also a vital element. The upcoming storms will unfortunately not completely save San Diego because we are currently 1-2 rainfalls behind.

The Impact on Our City

According to research, the El Nino is going to cause flooding and our famous LAKE 39. Lake 39 was founded in 2014 by a famous lady, mother nature. D39C students made boats with little supply and harsh restrictions.( Not a lot of restrictions towards the end) This boat had to survive in the water.  Lake 39 was at its deepest when an average-sized fourth grader hopped into the water and it measured knee-high.  This will also make an impact on our community. There will be slippery sidewalks because of the thunderstorms, and muddy grass affecting outdoor activities. Because the El Nino is recorded to be a strong event, this suggests that there will be some damage done to buildings and landscaping around our community.

So get prepared to see the effect of browning hills to lush green valleys!