How the record-breaking El Nino could impact our winter

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- All eyes are on the El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean, which has hit an all-time record.

Sea surface temperatures from a section in the middle of the El Nino are considered a benchmark for the strength rating.

That strength is determined by the sea surface temperature.

Over the past week, it hit +3.0 C, beating the previous record of +2.8 C during the 1997 "Super El Nino."

Simply put: We are in uncharted territory. Since El Nino records began in 1950, there has never been a one week temperature this warm in the equatorial Pacific.

These waters should begin gradually cooling as the El Nino is forecast to weaken over the next month. It should be interesting to see if the typical El Nino shifts in the weather pattern develop over the next few months.

What does this mean for us?

In this video, meteorologist Chris Sowers explains what El Nino is, and if it could mean a snowy winter in the Philadelphia region.

Then, watch Cecily Tynan's Winter Weather Outlook for more on the factors that could shape the season.