NOAA declares El Niño conditions officially underway

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that El Niño has officially begun in the tropical Pacific, noting sea‑surface temperatures well above normal. Scientists said the event could become a “very strong” or even a “super El Niño,” ranking among the most powerful episodes recorded since the 1950s.

Forecasts warn of widespread impacts: weaker monsoons and heightened drought risk for Australia, Indonesia and South‑Asia; heavier rains, flooding and landslides in parts of South America, East Africa and the southern United States; and increased wildfire danger in the Americas. The combined effect of El Niño and ongoing global warming may push worldwide temperatures toward new records, with some experts projecting a record‑breaking year as early as 2027 and potential pressures on food supplies and commodity prices.