# El Niño?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-nino/844432
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 5, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-nino/844432 "2019-12-05T21:56:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-nino/844432/1 "2019-12-05T21:56:25Z")
When will the next El Niño be?
I know that c. 20 years ago that was all they ever talked about. Warmer than normal winter. It comes once every 7years. Or is it every 5 years? In any event, I think we’re long overdue.
BTW interesting story. Christmas of 1982, when I was just starting HS, we sure had an El Niño. People even had barbecues on Christmas day like they do in California. I live in Michigan. We never have barbecues on Christmas! Also, I remember they were predicting a cold winter due to ash in the atmosphere from Mt. St. Helens. Boy we’re they wrong.
:):):)🙂
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/el-nino/844432/2 "2019-12-05T22:23:25Z")
There was a very strong El Nino (one of the strongest on record) only three years ago, [in 2015-2016.](https://ggweather.com/enso/oni.htm), followed by a weak La Nina (cold conditions). Last year (2018-2019) there was a weak El Nino.[This current year is predicted to be neutral](https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml) (neither El Nino nor La Nina). I don’t think they run predictions more than a year in advance, but it’s likely there will be an El Nino within a couple of years.