Question

How can the prevailing winds be different during an El Nino year?

Answer 1

Surface Winds
“During an El Niño year, weakening winds along the equator lead to warming water surface temperatures that lead to further weakening of the winds.” The image below shows the dominant direction of the winds and changes in their intensity near the ocean surface as observed by NASA's RapidScat instrument.

Answer 2

Answer: During an El Nino year, weakening winds along the equator lead to warming water surface temperatures that lead to further weakening of the winds