Explain the el niňo weather phenomenon

El Niño is a natural warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean. When the usual winds weaken, warm surface water sloshes east toward South America—sometimes changing weather around the world!

That extra ocean warmth adds heat and moisture to the air. In parts of Peru and Ecuador, El Niño can bring unusually heavy rain—enough to swell rivers and make umbrellas feel wildly underqualified.

While El Niño can bring heavy rain to Peru, parts of Australia may get less rain. A weather observer checks a nearly empty rain gauge—the sky is giving a very unhelpful “nope. ”