Chinese meteorologists say El Nino will mean this winter will be slightly warmer than usual, and next summer there will be floods and droughts.  

According to the China Meteorological Administration, a weak-to-moderate El Nino event has been detected for this winter lasting until the beginning of next year in an equatorial area near the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In last 50 years, temperatures have increased during EI Nino, with more rain in the southern China and droughts in the north.

El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific region which influences the climate internationally.

(CRI October 12, 2004)