I will probably name my next cat "El Nino" .  We now know that this weather phenomena is real, and has caused incredible property damage and suffering.  It seems however that it is just another one of this planet's dynamic processes for balancing its energy budget, much like hurricanes, tornados, and nor'easters.
 

I was down in Peru a few years ago, and saw the concern of the many villagers.  In the middle of one five-day inland "adventure" on the Bolivia/Brazil/Peru frontier,  we built a raft out of Balsa trees and floated 15 km. down the river.  We saw and heard all kinds of wildlife, including Howler Monkeys and even a jaguar!  That night we stayed with a local family high up on the riverbank.  An incredible rainstorm overnight brought the river up about six feet, trashed our raft, and we had to hike out through the jungle.  We heard on the radio a few nights later that the flooding had killed 21 villagers in one village!
Huge amounts of "el nino" data are being collected and are available via real-time web access.  If you are a weather-nut like I am, you'll spend many hours poking around some of these weather links.

    Last updated 11/23/00 by Tim D