I must say I’m worried about this whole La Nina thing that weather forecasters are getting their pretty little television heads all excited about.
My IQ instantly dropped 20 points when I heard a reporter on one of the nightly programs explain to everyone that “la nina” meant “the girl”. Yes, it’s Spanish you dolt, and that’s the translation. Now, do you think you might tell us what it actually means?
Granted, the limit of my meteorology skills are purely observational.
I peek out the window to determine whether it’s a shorts or longs day, and thanks to the girl’s persistence, I’ll always throw in an umbrella these days.
On each of television’s stations, it’s worth noting that temperature forecasts for “tomorrow” can be up to five degrees apart, which I find strange for such a sophisticated modern world of climatology.
One online source today had our part of town covered on cloud, the other had a bit of sun peeking through. The leaves on the front lawn were an indication the “no breeze” prediction of the non-government version had it wrong. The 15 knots by the Bureau was somewhere in the vicinity of correctness.
Back to the girl, and time to realign our IQ. La Nina is what we get “when equatorial trade winds become stronger, changing ocean surface currents and drawing cooler deep water up from below. This results in a cooling of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean”.
What? Way too jarring for my brain matter. Note to self: Delete IQ references.
La Nina means rain, and lots of it.
The wet will set in for a number of days on end, limiting my time in the garden. Not the first time a girl’s mood has upset my routine, neither the first time she’s sent me into a state of sorrow.
Then, out of the blue, the mood lifts and we get a hot steamy day fully of glorious sunshine and happiness. A little sweaty, but we feel all the better for it.
For hours, we’ll be laughing over lunch with friends. But don’t drop your guard, Wayne. You know you’ll pay. Then, whammo – the sky turns dark, lightning sends angry sparks of fury for no apparent reason, and hail threatens your hard-earned belongings.
Was it something I said? Or that prawn that went mysteriously missing from your salad? Aioli on my napkin? Where did that come from?
I digress.
So, the next day la nina and her uncalled-for downpour has caused dog droppings to be half-washed into the grass like a wet pancake, leaves won’t rake properly without time to dry, and weeds take to the balmy aftermath like a 15-year-old boy at a Miley Cyrus concert.
The gutters have clogged with leaves which is a timely reminder to get off the couch and find the broomstick I once beheaded specifically to tackle this cause.
You do the best you can with La Nina, because she is sent to try us. She’ll fill the dams and lift drought conditions as was the case in our neighbourhood last week.
But she’ll sometimes overdo things, bringing flood or storm damage to innocent areas. That’s right, she’s a capricious beast who must be managed with the utmost of respect.
As for me, I’ve learned to love her. I’ll work my indoor hobbies during the disturbing lows as they clean the air and wash the dusty rocks amid the frontyard landscaping.
I embrace the sunny days as roses among the thorns, and I make sure we’re home in time escape the storms, to appreciate the comfort of our surroundings while “angry” La Nina spits at the Earth around her.
While she’s around, we’ll all too easily pick faults in La Nina’s ways. Beyond her however, is el nino – a dry, relentless chap who’ll find cracks everywhere and kick dust in your face.
Hey Wanda, there’s a break in the weather so I’m taking the dog for a walk. Feel like going out for lunch when I get back?
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