All available signals in the atmosphere suggest that the next six months will be marked by often rainy weather and temperatures that are still too high. The evolution of the weather is driven by what is happening in the atmosphere, but who is steering what is happening up there? El Niño and La Niña are climatic phenomena characterized by temperature anomalies in the surface waters of the equatorial Pacific. These events, which belong to the cycle called ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation), significantly influence the global climate. Karine Durand, our weather and climate specialist, explains. ENSO is a natural climate cycle that alternates between El Niño and La Niña phases. During El Niño, the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific become warmer than usual, while during La Niña, they are cooler. These temperature changes affect atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to changes in weather across the globe. For example, El Niño can bring more rainfall to parts of South America while causing droughts in Southeast Asia, and La Niña can have the opposite effects. Karine Durand notes that the current climate conditions are influenced by a weak El Niño event. This means that the atmosphere is responding to the warmer-than-average Pacific waters, which can lead to more frequent and intense rainfall in certain regions. However, the exact impact varies depending on local geography and other climatic factors. Understanding these phenomena helps meteorologists and climate scientists better predict and prepare for weather patterns. As the world continues to experience climate variability, the role of natural cycles like ENSO becomes increasingly important. While these cycles are part of Earth's natural climate system, their effects can be amplified by human-induced climate change. Scientists are closely monitoring the current situation to provide accurate forecasts and insights into how these patterns may evolve in the coming months.