Winter is coming. According to CNN, this winter will be different than previous winters, as El Nino is expected to make landfall.
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El Nino is a weather pattern that happens every two to seven years. It starts in the Pacific Ocean near the Equator and leads to a warmer-than-average winter, according to ABC News. The surface temperature of the ocean can warm up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. El Nino can lead to heavier rainfall in some places and lighter rainfall in other places. Â
Northern states in the U.S. can expect lower-than-average rates of precipitation, especially in areas like New England. However, an El Nino Winter can also mean flooding in Eastern Africa, as well as a more intense cyclone season.
El Nino is not to be confused with La Nina, which causes a colder-than-usual winter. During La Nina, cooler, nutrient-rich waters are brought to the surface of the ocean.
Though El Nino is a natural phenomenon, scientists don’t fully understand how it happens, and it is hard to predict when it will and will not happen.
