El Niño and La Niña are periodic weather patterns resulting from interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere in the Pacific Ocean. Ocean temperatures indicate the presence of El Niño and La Niña, which sometimes lead to extreme weather in many parts of the United States. NOAA climatologists closely track the development of these oscillating systems, which typically last between one to two years. With so much at stake, it’s critical to be able to monitor and forecast when El Niño or La Niña is developing so governments, businesses, and private citizens can prepare.
