El Nino has officially arrived
NOAA has declared that El Nino has officially arrived.
El Nino conditions are currently present and it is expected to strengthen gradually as we head into the winter.
When there is an El Niño it typically brings warmer-than-average temperatures over western and central Canada in the winter months. El Nino does not significantly impact Eastern Canada.
El Nino is determined by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. Typically, this occurs on average every two to seven years.
The phenomenon causes several impacts around the world. Michelle L'Heureux climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center said, "Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world."
"Climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Nino. For example, El Nino could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Nino,” L'Heureux concludes.
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