Weather wise
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.GIVE A Nino a bad name and it'll get blamed for everything. In the past week, we have seen El Nino blamed for the tornadoes that destroyed lives and property in Florida, and for the rains that have killed off the tourist season in California, and for the water shortages in Hawaii.
Indeed, in California, a 25 to 50 percent drop in tourist business has forced lay-offs and budget cuts. Disneyland and Universal Studios have both refused to release attendance figures during the wet winter, though they have tried to put a positive spin on the climate by pointing out that umbrella sales are up.
In Hawaii, where one might think they would be grateful for anything that reduces the average 101/2 feet of rain each year, a state of emergency has been declared as the unexpected drought has led to water rationing and a threat of bush fires.
What we rarely hear about, however, is the good side of El Nino. All it is doing, after all, is shifting weather patterns from one part of the globe to another. For every area struck by an El Nino related hurricane or tornado, there is another region that is not suffering the sort of life-threatening weather it would otherwise have expected.
In the Upper Midwest of the US, El Nino is seen as a friend. As temperatures - usually below zero at this time of year - have reached 10C, birds are singing and the grass has begun to turn green. And you can even buy sweat- shirts saying: "Let it snow someplace else."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments