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El Niño Could Bring Drought Relief Next Winter
Remember El Niño? He's baaaaaaack.
The weather phenomenon that brought more than twice as much rain as usual to SoCal from 1997 to 1998 has more than a 50 percent chance of forming over the Pacific Ocean by summer or fall, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center said Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times . That could mean more rain next winter in California, in addition to fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic and hotter temperatures next year.
El Niño typically happens every two to seven years when weaker trade winds over the Pacific make way for warmer water along the West Coast of South America, often causing the jet stream to move over North America and rain down on the coast and Southern states. El Niño's last episode was in 2009-10, but it was moderate, and “La Niña,” typically associated with dryer and more temperate weather, has taken its place ever since.
Now watch this awesome clip of the late, great Chris Farley on “Saturday Night Live” in 1997 as the real-life El Niño:
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