What are El Niño and La Niña and how do they affect Colorado?
El Niño and La Niña are part of a climate pattern called ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean on average every five years. El Niño is characterized by above average temperatures in the Pacific while La Niña refers to below average temperatures. In Colorado, El Nino years tend be wetter than average. The summer monsoon is strengthened bringing more afternoon thunderstorms and in the winter, El Nino tends to bring above average snowfall to the southwest and central mountains but Denver and the Front Range can see below average snowfall. The effects of La Nina can vary widely across Colorado but typically drier conditions are observed during La Niña years.
