How El Niño to 'ENSO Neutral' may impact Portland area's April weather

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- April showers bring May flowers, but long-range weather models might say otherwise.

El Niño conditions are starting to fade over the central Pacific this spring. The new southern oscillation pattern is turning towards a neutral pattern, meaning El Niño nor La Niña is in place. This change could start ramping up as early as April. That pattern change could impact the weather seen around the Portland area next month.

On average, April is slightly warmer and still wet for the Portland-Vancouver metro area. April is typically the seventh rainiest month of year, averaging 2.89 inches at Portland International Airport. April is the time of year when the rain showers start decreasing as the warmer and sunnier weather starts to take over.

Temperatures typically sit in the low 60s for the month, but highs normally climb into the mid to upper 60s by the final day of April. Portland's average temperatures and precipitation might vary slightly as Pacific waters begin to neutralize.

The weakening state of El Niño has the potential to play into the weather pattern next month. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting April to be slightly warmer and drier than average this year in the Pacific Northwest.

This trend is possible but doesn't include outlying weather events that will likely move through the Pacific Northwest next month. The ENSO-neutral pattern that is starting to take shape could be an influence on this change, but is more likely not.

ENSO-neutral, El Niño and La Niña patterns typically influences the weather more during the winter months and not so much in the spring.