"This year's Atlantic hurricane season could be less severe than usual due to start of another El Nino period in June. The Pacific Ocean warming phenomenon has a major influence on global weather, ocean conditions and marine fisheries and can help to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, according to scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.
El Nino, the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters, occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months. The most recent previous El Nino occurred in 2006."
Environment News Service had the story July 14, 2009.
Source: ENS, 07/15/2009