The Blob (Pacific Ocean) the surface waters of the mid-latitude Pacific Ocean flipping from a cold phase to a warm phase in a cycle known as the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). This poorly-understood change happens at irregular intervals of years or decades. During a warm phase, the west Pacific becomes cooler and part of the eastern ocean warms; during the cool phase, these changes reverse. Scientists believe a cold phase started in the late 1990s and the arrival of the Blob may be the start of the next warm phase. The PDO phases may also be related to the likelihood of El Nino events.
Significant weather advisory 58 miles per hour. The product is mainly used by forecast offices located in the National Weather Service's Southern Region Headquarters. A significant weather advisory or warning is not an official National Weather Service product, instead it is issued within a special weather statement. Special weather statements are also used for any type of weather approaching watch/warning/advisory levels. Many NWS offices do not use significant weather advisories, instead issue normal special weather statements mentioning much of the same text used in such an advisory. If severe weather is detected, alerts (mainly a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning) are issued by