"The effects of El Niño are pretty 4pronounced across a lot of the 5continent, and really, a lot of the world." 

Dr. Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist, explains, El Niño is not just a Pacific story. The 6phenomenon typically leads to warmer and drier conditions in Northern sections of the U.S. with cooler and wetter weather across Southern stretches of the country. After California 7endureda winter of 8relentless 9atmospheric river systems, El Niño likely means more winter storms this coming January through March could be on the way. 

"I think there is a 10tilt in the odds towards a wetter than average winter, especially in Southern and Central California as well as other parts of the interior Southwestern U.S.." 

Dr. Swain adds, El Niño could mean an unusually dry winter in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii where we've seen wildfires like the 11devastation in August in Lahaina. But a 12curveball in this year El Niño 13predictions how the 14abnormally warm water across the rest of the world's oceans could change how El Niño impacts us. 

"The global oceans outside of the El Niño zone in the tropics are also 15extremely warm, and so that combination is something we haven't seen before."