'This winter will not be normal': Forecasters say El Niño is set to outgrow 1997 event as they warn phenomenon is now too big to fail

Daily Mail

A strong El Nino arrives about once every 20 years.  Ocean temperatures show this one to be the second-strongest since such record keeping began in 1950, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. That would make it weaker than the El Nino of 1997-98 but stronger than the El Nino of 1982-83. Both of those winters were known in California for relentless rain, strong winds and heavy snow.   .....Ninos can be unpredictable.....The current El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to peak between October and January and could turn into one of the strongest on record, experts from the World Meteorological Organization have warned."