FLASH
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The winter season this season may look completely different from what the world is used to in recent years, due to the El Niño phenomenon.
This winter will be the first to feel the effects of the phenomenon, which has a significant impact on the weather during the coldest months of the year.
El Niño tracks water temperature changes in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and that can have effects on different climates around the globe. The El Niño phase occurs when these ocean temperatures are warmer than normal for an extended period.
This year's El Niño began in June, is expected to be strong this winter and last until at least early next spring, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
El Niño's cooler counterpart, La Niña, played a major role in the past three winter seasons across the U.S., keeping the South dry while parts of the West were hit by blizzards.
No two El Nino winters are the same, but many have common temperature and precipitation trends.
One of the main reasons is the position of air currents, which often shift south during an El Niño winter. This change typically brings wetter and cooler weather to the South, while the North becomes drier and warmer, according to NOAA.
Because air currents are essentially a river of air through which storms flow, they can move south with increased frequency during an El Niño winter. More storms mean more precipitation.
The combination of cooler weather and more frequent precipitation may also increase the chances of wintry precipitation such as hail and snow in the south.
El Niño usually brings in a milder winter in the North, from the Pacific Northwest to the center of the country. However, storms can still form and bring periods of brutal cold or heavy snow to these regions, but they are usually less frequent.
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