In an El Niño year, trade winds are too weak to send warm currents west. Instead, warm currents travel east into South America. What is the end result of this difference in an El Niño year?

Question

Areas of North America have a colder winter.
Areas of North America have a colder winter.

Warm water pools toward the west.
Warm water pools toward the west.

Areas see significant changes in temperature and levels of precipitation.
Areas see significant changes in temperature and levels of precipitation.

Equatorial winds are particularly strong.

Answer 1

In an El Niño year, the significant result of warm currents traveling east into South America leads to areas seeing significant changes in temperature and levels of precipitation.

Specifically, this phenomenon can cause:

• Increased rainfall in the eastern Pacific and western coasts of the Americas, leading to flooding.
• Drier conditions and drought in some regions, particularly in the western Pacific and parts of Australia.
• Changes in weather patterns across North America, including milder winters in some areas and increased snowfall in others.

The other options (colder winters in North America, warm water pooling toward the west, and particularly strong equatorial winds) do not accurately describe the typical outcomes associated with El Niño.