A March monsoon and an April washout could just be a preamble to more wild weather ahead, thanks to El Niño. According to USA Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center recently increased the likelihood of a very strong El Niño event this fall from 63% in June to 81% in July. Water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are a major driver of an El Niño weather pattern, which often means warmer temperatures and less snow for the northern United States. Weatherology meteorologist Michael Karow says the transition from La Niña to El Niño is one reason you've seen so much severe weather in recent months.

Karow says the effects of El Niño are typically more active across the southern United States, meaning areas stretching from Southern California to the Gulf Coast could experience more storms. He is also expecting less hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin, though he notes it only takes one major storm to become deadly.