Thank you El Niño January 22, 2016 Editorial Staff Photo by Jason Kaplan By this time last year, the region had already experienced one snow and two ice storms. So far this year there have only been two dustings of snow, courtesy of El Niño, which causes ocean warming. The area’s luck is expected to run out this weekend, however, with a snowstorm in the forecast. Photo by Jason KaplanBy this time last year, the region had already experienced one snow and two ice storms. So far this year there have only been two dustings of snow, courtesy of El Niño, which causes ocean warming. The area’s luck is expected to run out this weekend, however, with a snowstorm in the forecast.