From floods to droughts, El Niño and La Niña create weather impacts that extend beyond North America to affect global weather patterns. El Niño leads to droughts in Australia while causing floods in South America and producing milder winter temperatures in Canada and Europe.

Commuters all across the Great Lakes region faced whiteout snow conditions this morning. The burst of snow was due to the so-called “lake effect,” and it’s unusual this early in the season.

The warm trend is expected to hold through the weekend and early next week thanks to a steady onshore breeze and a jet stream pattern that will keep cold air in the Northeastern US for now. Daily record highs are in jeopardy Sunday through Wednesday with records in the mid 80s and forecast highs also in the mid 80s.

It has been abnormally cold in Georgia this week, with freeze warnings issued across the state. Here's what caused the state's early-season chill.