<P> The first recorded El Niño that originated in the central Pacific and moved toward the east was in 1986 . Recent Central Pacific El Niños happened in 1986--87, 1991--92, 1994--95, 2002--03, 2004--05 and 2009--10 . Furthermore, there were "Modoki" events in 1957--59, 1963--64, 1965--66, 1968--70, 1977--78 and 1979--80 . </P> <P> El Nino affects the global climate and disrupts normal weather patterns, which as a result can lead to intense storms in some places and droughts in others . </P> <P> Most tropical cyclones form on the side of the subtropical ridge closer to the equator, then move poleward past the ridge axis before recurving into the main belt of the Westerlies . Areas west of Japan and Korea tend to experience much fewer September--November tropical cyclone impacts during El Niño and neutral years . During El Niño years, the break in the subtropical ridge tends to lie near 130 ° E, which would favor the Japanese archipelago . </P> <P> Within the Atlantic Ocean vertical wind shear is increased, which inhibits tropical cyclone genesis and intensification, by causing the westerly winds in the atmosphere to be stronger . The atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean can also be drier and more stable during El Niño events, which can also inhibit tropical cyclone genesis and intensification . Within the Eastern Pacific basin: El Niño events contribute to decreased easterly vertical wind shear and favours above - normal hurricane activity . However, the impacts of the ENSO state in this region can vary and are strongly influenced by background climate patterns . The Western Pacific basin experiences a change in the location of where tropical cyclones form during El Niño events, without a major change in how many develop each year . As a result of this change Micronesia is more likely to be affected by several tropical cyclones, while China has a decreased risk of being affected by several tropical cyclones . A change in the location of where tropical cyclones form also occurs within the Southern Pacific Ocean between 135 ° E and 120 ° W, with tropical cyclones more likely to occur within the Southern Pacific basin than the Australian region . As a result of this change tropical cyclones are 50% less likely to make landfall on Queensland, while the risk of a tropical cyclone is elevated for island nations like Niue, French Polynesia, Tonga, Tuvalu and the Cook Islands . </P>

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