El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs when the central and eastern Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than average. This warming can have a significant impact on weather patterns around the world, including in the United States.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is a 95% chance that El Niño will continue through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2023-24. This means that we can expect to see some of the typical El Niño weather patterns during the winter months.
What Can We Expect For the Winter This Year?
Wetter in the South and Southwest
El Niño winters are typically wetter than average in the southern tier of the United States, from Texas to Florida. This is because the jet stream, which is a band of strong winds that steers storms, tends to be further south during El Niño winters. This brings more storms and precipitation to the South.