Southern California is likely to experience a wet winter due to a potentially powerful El Niño in the Pacific Ocean. According to the National Weather Services’ Climate Prediction Center, above-average surface temperatures have been recorded in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, and conditions favoring El Niño are expected to intensify in the coming months.

Impacts of El Niño

Typical impacts of El Niño include stormier weather in the southern United States, resulting in more rain and snow. It can also lead to increased risk of flooding during high tides on the West Coast. Additionally, El Niño can cause harmful algae blooms on the West Coast.

The National Weather Service (NWS) notes that El Niño generally leads to a southern shift of the jet stream over the northern Pacific Ocean, resulting in drier conditions in areas such as the Northern Rockies and the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. However, it brings stormier conditions to the southern regions.

Ken Graham, NWS director, stated that every El Niño is unique and has its own imprint on the weather. Advanced monitoring and an improved understanding of El Niño patterns allow the NWS to better predict and prepare the public for what is to come.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.