ENSO Impacts and Outlook Reports

Conditions in the equatorial Pacific can have an impact on the weather patterns here in the High Plains region, particularly in the winter. An El Niño occurs when the sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are above normal for an extended period of time. Conversely, a La Niña occurs when the sea surface temperatures are below normal for an extended period of time. The images below demonstrate the typical winter weather pattern during El Niño events (left) and La Niña events (right). When an El Niño or La Niña is expected to impact the region, the HPRCC works with partners to produce 2-page briefings covering the latest outlooks (see below). For the most up-to-date information, please see NOAA’s ENSO Blog.



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