El Niño continues to strengthen according to NOAA's latest forecast. But would a strong El Niño mean an active winter across Northern California?

El Niño happens when the equatorial Pacific Ocean encounters extended periods of temperatures warmer than usual. The current El Niño started in June and is anticipated to continue into early spring, with the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center assessing its intensity.

It's been a windy start to spring, but if you're sick of the westerlies you're out of luck. Not only are they expected to make a return over much of the North Island this weekend - they're also likely to be a feature of the incoming El Niño weather pattern.

No matter which winter prediction you look at, nobody really knows what’s going to happen, but there are some variables we can consider to help us understand what could happen in the coming months.

In addition to cold and wet conditions, El Niño poses a risk of bringing floods to the state followed by a possible low-water event for the MS River.