Infographic: Over 65 years, El Niño has affected California rainfall levels
El Niño is a warming of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that frequently brings above-average rainfall to the southern half of the United States, although Southern California has also had some very dry El Niño years. La Niña, a cooling cycle, usually leads to drier weather. On Thursday, forecasters for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said climate models show that El Niño has arrived and that there is about an 80% chance that it will persist through the end of the year. Here’s a look at El Niño cycles since 1960 and the effects on California’s rainfall:
