El Niño and La Niña

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NOAA El Niño: Research, Forecasts and Observations La Nina Vs. El Nino October 17, 2010; 3:15 AM Sea surface temperatures play a major role in global weather and nowhere is that more evident then in El Nino and La Nina patterns. These type of patterns often lead to weather extremes, some of which can be seen in our own backyards. Sea surface temperatures indicate that we'll have a La Nina this winter, which could mean a season of weather extremes across parts of the United States. What is La Nina and El Nino? La Nina is described as cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, near the equator off the west coast of South America. What Causes La Nina and El Nino? Simply put, easterly trade winds over the equatorial Pacific Ocean are partly to blame for both phenomenon. In an El Nino, the opposite occurs. What Does All of This Mean for the Weather? We're already seeing affects of the building La Nina. In an El Nino winter, we see what we had last season. How Long Will This All Last? Related to the Story: