Weak El Nino brewing in Pacific Ocean
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El Nino, which warms stretches of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, takes place every few years and can influence weather around the world.
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(CNN) -- Weak El Niņo conditions are emerging in the Pacific Ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Thursday.
"Based on the sea surface temperature observations for September, October, and those projected for the rest of November, as well as the NOAA definition for El Niņo events, there is an above average likelihood sea-surface temperature conditions will be characterized as a weak or borderline El Niņo by the end of November," NOAA scientist Vernon Kousky said in a written statement.
NOAA does not expect the development to have a major impact on U.S. weather this winter.
An El Niņo is a disruption of the ocean and atmosphere system that happens when the tropical trade winds die down and a pool of warmer-than-average water forms in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It can have wide ranging effects on global weather.
The last El Niņo occurred from May 2002 to March 2003, and was generally regarded as "weak to moderate" by researchers. It is a bit unusual to have "back to back" El Niņo winters, but not unprecedented. It last happened in the years 1940 and 1941.
