El Nino is a band of warm ocean water temperatures that develop off the Pacific Coast of South America. When a strong El Nino sets in, this typically produces a cool and wet weather pattern for Oklahoma during the cold season or winter months.
Currently, the sea surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean look very similar to the record-breaking El Nino in 1997. Even though sea surface water temperatures are climbing, this does not guarantee an El Nino will even take shape this upcoming winter.
Even though a strong El Nino historically has produced wet weather for Oklahoma, a weak El Nino produces dry weather for the Sooner State.