The blob returns: What a Pacific heatwave means for the U.S.
The Weather Channel · Just In
The Weather Channel
Just In
A massive marine heatwave called "the blob" has returned, stretching 5,000 miles across the Pacific. Beyond disrupting ocean ecosystems from plankton to whales, this warming phenomenon reshapes weather patterns nationwide.
Breakdown
- A massive marine heatwave, known as 'the blob,' stretches from Japan to the U.S. East Coast.
- This is the fourth largest Northeast Pacific blob on record, disrupting ocean ecosystems. 10s
- Warmer water reduces nutrient and oxygen availability, impacting marine life and predators. 19s
- The heatwave increases moisture for storms and reduces snowpack on the U.S. West Coast. 48s
- It can disrupt the jet stream, leading to colder, wetter winters in the eastern U.S. 59s