El Niño Expected to Impact Winter Rock Climbing Conditions Across U.S.
A 'Super El Niño' is predicted to significantly alter winter climbing conditions across North America, with a greater than 90% chance of becoming very strong. This phenomenon is expected to bring wetter-than-normal conditions to popular winter rock climbing destinations in the southern U.S., including Joshua Tree, southern Arizona, and Hueco Tanks. The Southeast is also historically wetter during strong El Niños. Conversely, the Pacific Northwest, central and northern Idaho, western Montana, and northwest Wyoming are anticipated to experience warmer and drier conditions than usual from November through March. This shift in weather patterns could make traditional winter climbing circuits less reliable, potentially leading to more precipitation in areas typically sought for dry rock climbing. Ice climbing conditions are also expected to be affected, with warmer air masses potentially pushing freezing levels higher and impacting ice quality and stability. Forecasters emphasize that while these are seasonal ou...
