We hear a lot about El Niño and La Niña, especially when forecasters talk about seasonal weather patterns. But what are they, and what can they mean for Harris County?

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of a natural climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can influence weather across the United States, including Southeast Texas. El Niño is generally associated with warmer Pacific waters, while La Niña is associated with cooler waters. Those changes can shift larger weather patterns and affect temperature, rainfall and storm activity.

In two episodes of “Let’s Talk Weather with Jeff,” Harris County Flood Control District Meteorologist and Director of Hydrologic Operations Jeff Lindner explains both patterns and brings the conversation closer to home.

El Niño is one side of this natural climate cycle and can influence the broader weather setup across Texas and the southern United States.

La Niña is the opposite phase of the same climate cycle and can lead to a different overall weather pattern for our region.

While neither pattern can predict exactly what the weather will be on a given day, understanding El Niño and La Niña helps provide context for the larger conditions that can influence our weather over time.