El Niño Emerges, Raising Concerns Over Severe Weather Patterns

WHO:

Newsweek - NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is involved in monitoring El Niño.

BBC News - US scientists have officially declared the start of an El Niño event.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Ariel Cohen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office, stated, “There is a 63% chance that we’re looking at a very strong El Niño during the November to January time period.”

Fast Company - The United Nations Secretary-General warned that “El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” indicating that impacts will be more severe and widespread.

Fast Company - The World Resources Institute noted that the extreme warming from El Niño could lead to “stronger, more persistent impacts around the world in the form of droughts, floods, cyclones, extreme heat and more.”

Fast Company - There is a 63% chance that we’re looking at a very strong El Niño during the November to January time period.

Fast Company - This El Niño could rank among the largest El Niño events in the historical record, going back to 1950.

Fast Company - The 1997-98 El Niño cost governments around the world $45 billion in damages due to severe storms, droughts, and other effects.

Alternet - The El Niño event could become very intense towards the end of the year, with discussions of a “super-El Niño” anticipated in 2027.

Newsweek - NOAA has doubled the chances of El Niño being classified as "very strong" this winter.

BBC News - The El Niño event is raising fears of extreme weather and higher temperatures.

WHEN:

Newsweek - The update regarding the chances of a "very strong" El Niño pertains to the upcoming winter season.

WHY:

Alternet - The emergence of a super-El Niño is expected to lead to a higher global average temperature, potentially a few tenths of a degree above current projections due to global warming.

BBC News - The emergence of El Niño is associated with concerns over potential weather extremes.

HOW:

Fast Company - NOAA meteorologists classify El Niños as weak, moderate, strong, or very strong, and do not use the term "Super El Niño."

Fast Company - For an El Niño to officially form, temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean must reach 0.5 degrees C above average for a few months in a row; in a “very strong” or Super El Niño, sea surface temperatures climb 2 degrees above average.

Alternet - The super-El Niño is predicted to cause heavy rainfall in Andean countries, the Argentinian area of Mar del Plata, East Africa, and parts of the southern United States, while leading to severe droughts in Southeast Asia, parts of Australia, and northeastern Brazil.

Newsweek - NOAA's assessment indicates a significant increase in the likelihood of a very strong El Niño event.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 23:23 UTC)

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office have indicated a 63% chance of experiencing a very strong El Niño from November to January. The United Nations Secretary-General has warned that these El Niño conditions will exacerbate global warming, leading to more severe and widespread impacts. According to the World Resources Institute, the extreme warming associated with El Niño could result in stronger and more persistent issues worldwide, including droughts, floods, cyclones, and extreme heat.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 21:41 UTC)

There is a 63% chance that we could be facing a very strong El Niño during the upcoming November to January period, which may rank among the largest El Niño events recorded since 1950. The 1997-98 El Niño serves as a stark reminder of the potential impact, costing governments around the world an estimated $45 billion due to severe storms, droughts, and other related effects. For this phenomenon to officially form, temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean need to rise at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above average for several months, and in a "very strong" or Super El Niño, those temperatures could climb as much as 2 degrees above average.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 18:03 UTC)

A significant El Niño event is expected to intensify towards the end of the year, with discussions already underway about the possibility of a "super-El Niño" in 2027. This phenomenon is projected to raise the global average temperature by a few tenths of a degree above current estimates due to ongoing global warming. Additionally, the super-El Niño is likely to bring heavy rainfall to regions like the Andean countries and East Africa, while causing severe droughts in Southeast Asia, parts of Australia, and northeastern Brazil.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 16:27 UTC)

US scientists have officially declared the start of an El Niño event, with NOAA closely monitoring its development. The agency has doubled the chances of this El Niño being classified as "very strong" for the upcoming winter season, raising concerns about extreme weather and higher temperatures. The emergence of El Niño is linked to potential weather extremes, prompting heightened attention from meteorologists and climate experts.