text: The strong but shorter than average (8 months compared to 2 years) El Nio event that we have experienced is quickly giving way to its opposite, La Nia. Whereas El Nio is characterized by an accumulation of hot water in the Pacific Ocean near Peru, La Nia is characterized by colder than average sea surface temperatures in the same area. Sea surface temperatures have dropped by 15 degrees Fahrenheit from early May to early June.