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<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is El Ni\u00f1o ?<\/strong><\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o is the warm phase of the El Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation, resulting from a band of warm ocean water that develops off the Pacific coast of South America. El Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation refers to the cycle of warm and cold temperatures, as measured by sea surface temperature. El Ni\u00f1o is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific. El Ni\u00f1os \u00a0transfer heat stored in the deeper layers of the ocean to the surface. When combined with global warming, that can lead to record hot years, as in 1998<\/p>\n The cool phase El Ni\u00f1o \u00a0is called “La Ni\u00f1a. The ENSO cycle, both El Ni\u00f1o and La Ni\u00f1a, causes global changes of both temperatures and rainfall. Mechanisms that cause the oscillation remain under study.<\/p>\n Severe El Ni\u00f1o \u2019s cause record heat, heavy rain, flooding and flash flooding, so be prepared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What Can We Expect This Year?<\/strong><\/p>\n This year\u2019s El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern could be the most powerful on record. While the effects of the weather system are never certain, the Climate Prediction Center for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this El Ni\u00f1o \u00a0to be among the strongest in recorded history. It is already the strongest for this time of year in more than 60 years. The 2015 El Ni\u00f1o is already being\u00a0referred to as\u00a0\u201cThe Godzilla El Ni\u00f1o.\u201d<\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o is expected to reach California by late fall, early winter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can\u00a0El Ni\u00f1o Help The CA Drought?<\/strong><\/p>\n Although we can expect heavy rains, it will likely not be enough to reverse the California drought. To combat the drought, we depend on snowfall. May people mistakenly think that a period of heavy rain can resolve a drought crisis, when in fact, it cannot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n