Tropical Rainfall Pattern Will Increase Rainfall Variability in Pacific Northwest

The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is a tropical rainfall pattern that excites waves of air that can affect weather outside of the tropics. New research shows that warming temperatures will cause the “teleconnection” that allows the MJO to affect non-tropical weather to extend further over the North Pacific than it now does. This change will increase the variability of rainfall in California.