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The science behind El Niño

Aug 17, 2015 | 12:33 PM

What exactly is El Niño? CNN’s Jennifer Gray explains this weather phenomenon that happens between the Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere.
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Sun Jun 14
Pensacola, FL, USA
90°F
Feels Like: 105°F
Wind/Dir: 39 MPH-SSW
Humidity: 68%
Pressure: 30 INHG
Mostly Cloudy. Feels like 105°F. Wind 39 mph SSW. Wind gusting to 27 mph. Pressure 30 inHg. Visibility 10 mi.
Last Updated: 1:56 PM (Time Zone: America/Chicago)
Sun Jun 14
This Afternoon
91°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 21%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Heat index values as high as 105. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
82°FLow
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-W
Precipitation: 18%
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 82. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Mon Jun 15
Day
88°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-W
Precipitation: 72%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Night
79°FLow
Wind/Dir: 5 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 52%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tue Jun 16
Day
84°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 83%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Night
78°FLow
Wind/Dir: 5 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 85%
Showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wed Jun 17
Day
85°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 85%
Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Night
82°FLow
Wind/Dir: 15 MPH-S
Precipitation: 35%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 82. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thu Jun 18
Day
87°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 15 MPH-S
Precipitation: 59%
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Night
82°FLow
Wind/Dir: 15 MPH-S
Precipitation: 59%
Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Fri Jun 19
Day
87°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 15 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 44%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Night
80°FLow
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 56%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sat Jun 20
Day
86°FHigh
Wind/Dir: 10 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 56%
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Night
79°FLow
Wind/Dir: 5 MPH-SW
Precipitation: 32%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79.