By Susan Vela
The Cincinnati Enquirer

El Nino's warming effects might eventually bring relief to some winter-weary parts of the country, but don't look for much of an impact here, meteorologists and utility experts say.

The weather pattern that visits around Christmas usually affects the South more than the North and, so far, El Nino - named after "the Christ child" - has barely brushed Greater Cincinnati, they said.

"It's been around in a weak form," said Brian Coniglio, forecaster with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, who called El Nino's Greater Cincinnati showing "wishy-washy."

"Normally, the clear-cut effects are down South and, of course, right by California."

El Nino is the term used for the abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean waters.

The phenomenon is known to wreak havoc on global weather patterns, usually every three years.

Meteorologists expect a greater impact in January and February. Some have said El Nino could hurt Midwestern utilities, which rely on revenues from people turning up their furnaces during the winter months.

Cinergy Corp. spokesman Steve Brash said any effects would be moderate.

"The impact of El Nino really is only a part of the entire weather picture that we face," he said. "There are other factors that also have an impact on weather conditions in this region."

Diana Frey of Cincinnati's public-services department said 70 trucks laid more than 360 tons of salt on Tuesday morning, preparing for an expected wintry assault of rain, sleet and possibly snow later in the day. She's heard that El Nino could mean fewer snow days in Cincinnati. But she's not holding her breath.

"The best forecast is what's actually happening out the window," she said. "Here in Cincinnati, it's bizarre anyway, without any outside influence."

Today's temperatures aren't expected to break 30 degrees, which is lower than the normal high of 41. Temperatures should creep toward the mid-30s by Friday and into the 40s over the weekend, forecasters said.

E-mail svela@enquirer.com