Are You Ready for an El Nino Winter?

Winter is coming. According to CNN, this winter will be different than previous winters, as El Nino is expected to make landfall.

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.  

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.

Source: https://outdoors.com/ready-for-an-el-nino-winter/