Does El Niño have any significant effect on the Gulf Stream? Is there a link between them such as to have caused the recent above average temperature in Britain?
As far as we know the El Niño does not directly affect the Gulf Stream, position or intensity. The reason why Britain is having a mild winter is because the Jet Stream’s position is averaging higher up in latitude than normal. This has allowed milder air to move further north over the British Isles. So, the possible connection between El Niño and warmer temperatures in Britain is the Jet Stream position over Europe.
