The Worst El Nino Effect in History Caused More Than $30 Billion in Damages

One of the most fascinating weather phenomena in the world is the El Nino effect. While “el nino” in Spanish translates to “the child” in English, it most certainly doesn’t mean something small is happening in the weather world. Every two to seven years, an El Nino event occurs on Earth. While the starting point of an El Nino is only in the Pacific Ocean, it affects the rest of the world. The Pacific Ocean is a gargantuan body of water. El Nino events start in the eastern part of the ocean, near the Equator.

An El Nino event takes place when the temperature of the seawater in the Pacific Ocean rises above average temperatures. That causes a jet stream to come off the ocean. The jet stream moves towards North and South America. Australia is another country that’s affected whenever an El Nino event happens.  Whenever an El Nino event occurs, there are countless things that happen. For starters, the ocean temperature rises. While that might seem insignificant, the animals under the sea leave to find water that suits them better. The entire ecosystem becomes thrown off.

Another issue that arises when during an El Nino is the strength of the ocean current rises. Ships out at sea and even those playing in the water must remain vigilant. The last thing anyone wants is the ocean to swallow them up because they weren’t paying attention. (For more weather-related content, click here to read about extreme weather phenomena you didn’t know existed .)

To assist with learning about the worst El Nino effect in history, 24/7 Tempo consulted geographic sources. These include National Geographic Education, the National Weather Service , and PreventionWeb.net.

What happens during an El Nino event?

El Nino weather events can cause massive problems whenever they arise. An El Nino happens when the water temperature in the eastern Pacific Ocean rises near the Equator. Since the water temperature rises, the animals that usually make their home in that section of the ocean leave. They aren’t used to the warmer temperatures and want to be where they feel most comfortable. That’s not the only issue that arises, though.

The ocean current becomes stronger, which affects ships and those in the ocean. Each region near the ocean can experience different things. Areas that are in droughts get even less rain. Places with high temperatures see even bigger numbers appear on the weather report. Flooding and severe storms take place. It’s important to be aware whenever an El Nino appears to be happening. You can save yourself and your family by being proactive.

What’s the worst El Nino in history?

The worst recorded El Nino in history occurred between 1997 and 1998. For one year, folks were affected by the El Nino. There was more than $30 billion in damage done by that specific weather phenomenon. There were more cyclones in the two years than average, which destroyed countless homes and businesses. Dozens of these areas in the Pacific Ocean heavily rely on tourism to stimulate the economy. Since there were weather issues and folks were advised to avoid getting in the water, few people went.

Water temperatures even rose near Alaska. With warmer water temperatures came glaciers falling into the ocean. It’s vital for water near Alaska to stay cool so glaciers maintain their structure. Whenever part of a glacier falls into the water, the sea level rises. The entire world felt the impact of this specific El Nino. There were countless droughts and other natural disasters that plagued places like Florida. There were also more tornados in Florida during that time than any other in history.

What’s worse: an El Nino event or a La Nina?

La Nina events are when the ocean becomes cooler than normal, compared to El Nino when the ocean temperature rises. La Nina events happen every three to five years. The most severe La Ninas create more hurricanes and causes temperatures to fall dramatically. There are floods near Washington and Canada during a La Nina. Droughts in the southern part of the United States are common as well.

Both are just as bad, but it’s worse when an El Nino strikes. There’s so much damage that happens during an El Nino. The entire world can feel the effect of an El Nino. Not every country feels when a La Nina takes place. Regardless, it’s vital to know when either one is taking place. (For more weather content, click here to read 16 of the Most Catastrophic Storms in World History .)

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