El Niņo 70% likely to arrive in summer, says US weather forecaster
The chances of an El Niño, the global climate phenomenon that can destroy crops in Asia and offer a relief from harsh winters in North America, were raised to 70% on Thursday. But scientists said the coming El Niño was likely to be of only moderate strength.
In their monthly forecast, scientists from the US government's Climate Prediction Centre said warming sea temperatures in the Pacific continued to create the conditions for an El Niño this summer.
The chance of El Niño is 70% during the northern hemisphere summer and reaches 80% during the fall and winter, the centre said. Its ultimate strength had weakened over the last month. Regardless, the forecasters remain just as confident that El Niño is likely to emerge, the forecast said.
There has been growing anticipation of an El Niño this year because of its widespread impacts.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/05/el-nino-summer-us-weather-forecaster