►Back to the eEdition eXtras index
![]()
Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support. FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 18, 2015 Expect a cooler and wetter summer because of the 'El Nino' weather pattern![]() ![]() Find a local forecast for tomorrow or next weekend. Will you need a jacket or rain gear?
![]() Pick any other science or environment coverage and summarize what you learn.
![]() Look for news about a business or activity affected directly by climate, particularly a cooler summer and heavy rain.
An occasional world weather situation is back for the first time in five years: The El Nino phenomenon will bring climate extremes this year to our country and others, forecasters say. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center has issued an advisory for all of North America. El Nino years generally tend to have more thunderstorms, cooler temperatures and fewer Atlantic hurricanes. The condition occurs when winds circulating over warm water in the tropical Pacific Ocean start to weaken and sea surface temperatures rise – something already detected around Australia. Those changes in air and ocean currents around the equator can have a major impact on global weather patterns. El Nino is fueling record warmth worldwide. NASA reported last week that the first four months of 2015 are the warmest on record for the planet. "There is an approximately 90-percent chance that El Nino will continue through the summer 2015, and a greater than 80-percent chance it will last through 2015," the federal climate center says. The atmospheric jet stream's most southern track in an El Nino season brings above-average rain to the southern United States -- potentially good news for drought-stricken areas from California to Texas. El Nino already has been significant enough to contribute to heavy rain and a major reduction in drought in a large part of Texas and the southern Plains over the past few weeks. California has been in a drought emergency since January, bringing the state's first mandatory water limits. Washington's governor declared a drought emergency for his state last Friday.
Front Page Talking Points is written by
Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2024
Front Page Talking Points Archive►Turning point: Supreme Court says presidents have 'absolute immunity' for official acts ►First Biden-Trump debate of 2024 airs Thursday from Georgia ►Health experts monitor the jump of bird flu to cows and a few farm hands, but see no wide risk ►Negro Leagues stars from a bygone era gain new standing in Major League Baseball records ►Justice Samuel Alito adds two flags to Supreme Court ethics storms ►Use of new weight-loss drugs soars among teens ►Needy families await action on bill to restore federal internet service rebates ►U.S. government may challenge concert business dominance of Live Nation and Ticketmaster |