What is El Nino?
You may have heard of El Nino but have a lot of questions and the KRCR First Alert Weather Team is spending a week breaking down the details of this much discussed weather phenomena. Northern California is on the brink of a drought with several below-average rain fall seasons in a row.
Many viewers have sent in emails or called wondering if perhaps El Nino is the ray of hope, associating El Nino with heavy rainfall and possible flooding. The truth is, during past El Nino years Northern California has experienced BELOW average rainfall!
El Nino is an oceanic and wind phenomenon that affects the weather around the world. In layman terms, the ocean warms up and it changes weather patterns everywhere. During an El Nino year the easterly trade winds start to retreat and there is warming of the equatorial waters in the eastern pacific where the warmest waters are typically near Australia. During El Nino warmer waters travel from Australia eastward.
Typical Impacts of El Nino.
El Nino...Myths and Realities.
Past El Nino Events.
