WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Indiana’s state climatologist says the Pacific Ocean’s current El Nino weather pattern should bring Indiana a mild and dry start to its winter.

Purdue University-based climatologist Dev Niyogi says the current El Nino is among the strongest on record since 1950.

Niyogi says past strong El Nino events have brought warmer temperatures and about half the normal amount of snow to Indiana.

Based on that historical trend, he says Indiana can expect a mild and dry early winter.

But the current El Nino is forecast to reach its peak in December. Niyogi says if that happens, it will make for a colder, snowier late winter across Indiana.