Climate Researchers Think We Could Be In For The Most Powerful El Niño In 16 Years The Conversation UK Agus Santoso and Shayne McGregor, The Conversation UK May 2, 2014, 5:31 PM We have only just moved into May and despite being seven months away from next summer in the southern hemisphere, climate researchers are seeing the beginnings of what could be the most powerful El Niño event since 1997/98. An El Niño is a change in Pacific Ocean and atmosphere that typically causes drought, extreme heat and bushfires in Australia. Last year was a neutral El Niño and we...