Odds of a ‘super El Niño’ increase, adding to fears of extreme weather around the world
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- New forecasts from NOAA and the European Center indicate a high likelihood of a powerful El Niño event forming in the coming months, potentially lasting through the end of 2026.
- The European Center predicts sea surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific could reach up to 3°C above average by fall, qualifying it as a “super El Niño,” one of the strongest on record.
- El Niño events typically raise global temperatures and amplify climate change effects, with a super El Niño possibly causing record-breaking global heat in 2027.
- This climate pattern generally suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity but contributes to hotter, drier conditions in the southern U.S. and increased rainfall in central and southern Asia and parts of the Middle East.
- Scientists monitor El Niño closely due to its significant impact on global weather extremes, including droughts, heatwaves, and shifts in precipitation patterns worldwide.
