This satellite image taken 10 November 1992 and released by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA 18 November shows the El Nino weather phenomena, represented by the the white area at the equator. The image shows how the warm waters of El Nino are reaching from Peru to Alaska. Official sources expect the areas of warm waters to increase. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’ Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño on Thursday which means that there is a 50 percent chance of El Nino weather patterns occurring sometime this summer or fall. ; Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’ Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño on Thursday. This means there is now a 50 percent chance of El Niño developing at some point this summer or fall.
Although it is still early, experts say that if El Niño conditions return it could bring much needed rain to California.
El Niño occurs every two to seven years when warmer water in the Pacific builds up along the west coast of south America causing changes in precipitation patterns across the globe. If El Niño returns this year it would be the first since 2009 to 2010.
Guest:
Mike Halpert, Deputy Director at the Climate Prediction Center