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A satellite image from NASA shows the warmer than normal water temperatures in the Pacific growing in size and temperature. This signifies a developing El Nino.

(NASA)

New images from NASA show that waters are warming quickly in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This means that an El Nino is probably rapidly developing, and may be becoming stronger than currently forecast. A strong El Nino can have a significant impact on Michigan's weather.

The image is a satellite image from NASA, showing where and how much the waters are warming along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The white color is water that has warmed much above normal, while the red is water that is warming above normal. So that large warmer than normal water area signifies the development of an El Nino.

Now some Climatologists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory say that this current El Nino is developing similar to the El Nino development in 1997.

Why is this important for Michigan?

A strong El Nino can have a strong influence on Michigan's winter weather. When a strong El Nino is in progress during the winter, Michigan has a pretty good chance of a warmer and drier than normal winter.

How did this forecasting rule work out for the winter of 1997-1998? Michigan cities had anywhere between the second and fifth warmest winter on record. Do bear in mind that the 1997-1998 El Nino was one of the strongest in recorded history.

So if you are dreading the thought of next winter possibly being a repeat of this past winter here in Michigan, there is hope.

I'll keep you updated on the development of El Nino, and start to look at how it could influence our summer and fall.

If you have any questions about El Nino, ask them below.

MLive Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has been forecasting Michigan weather for more than 20 years. He's been chief meteorologist at three television news stations in Michigan, and he's an avid gardener and hunter. Email him at mark@farmerweather.com and find him on Facebook at facebook.com/mark.torregrossa and Twitter @weathermanmark