Rio Grande Valley breaks rainfall record
McALLEN — Blame it on El Niño.
Wednesday was the rainiest Dec. 16 on record in McAllen, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 4:30 p.m., 2.78 inches of rainfall had been recorded in the City of Palms. That breaks the old Dec. 16 record of 0.35 inches, set in 1963. Meteorologists recorded unofficial totals in excess of 3 inches in parts of Hidalgo, McAllen, Pharr and Edinburg since early Tuesday afternoon.
Brownsville also broke its record for the date by more than 2 inches, and Harlingen tied its Dec. 16 record set in 1937, according to the weather service. Both areas received more than 2 inches of rain. The normal rainfall for the Rio Grande Valley this time of year is 0.03 to 0.05 inches.
But the downpour didn’t surprise meteorologists.
“This type of rainfall is typical in an El Niño year,” said weather service meteorologist Joseph Tomaselli.
El Niño refers to warmer-than-normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that cause significant weather changes throughout the world. For the Valley, the phenomenon usually translates to fewer or no hurricanes and wet winters, Tomaselli said.
The steady, cold rain that continued Wednesday formed pockets of minor flooding throughout the area and contributed to minor vehicle collisions.
Some minor flooding was reported in a colonia northwest of Mission, as well as in areas north of Alamo and Donna. The water is expected to subside on its own, said Tony Peña, Hidalgo County’s emergency management coordinator.
“We should be alright in the morning,” he said.
Rainfall was expected to continue through the night Wednesday and possibly into Thursday afternoon. The Valley can expect a drier and warmer weekend, with highs in the upper 70s in the daytime and lows in the 50s and 60s at night.
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Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462. Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.
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El Niño vs. La Niña
El Niño and La Niña are changes in ocean atmosphere in the Pacific and cause significant weather changes throughout the world. Ocean temperatures are warmer than usual during El Niño and colder than normal during La Niña.
The changes can cause extreme weather conditions, including increased rainfall in the southern United States and drought in the West Pacific, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
When the Pacific experiences El Niño, winter temperatures are warmer in the northern central states and cooler in the Southeast and Southwest. The opposite occurs when El Niño is followed by La Niña, according to the administration’s Web site.
