How do El Niño and La Niña change weather around the world?
Quick Answer
They are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation in the tropical Pacific. Changes in ocean temperature and trade winds can shift rainfall, storms, and drought patterns globally.
The Full Story
El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of ENSO, a recurring climate pattern in the tropical Pacific. During El Niño, warmer-than-normal waters spread across the central and eastern Pacific, which can weaken trade winds and shift rainfall belts. La Niña is the opposite phase, with cooler waters and different global weather impacts. These patterns can influence rainfall in Australia, hurricane activity in the Atlantic, and winter weather in North America. Major El Niño events occurred in 1982–83, 1997–98, and 2015–16.
Key Facts
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"A warm patch of Pacific water can rewrite weather worldwide—here’s how"