El Nino headed for one of strongest peaks since 1950, NOAA says
Why it matters: Forecasters put the odds of a very strong event at 81%, raising risks of drought, floods, heat and a quieter Atlantic storm season.
An El Nino that emerged in June is rapidly strengthening and is likely to rank among the biggest events in records dating to 1950, U.S. forecasters said. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center put the chance of a very strong El Nino at 81% between October and December, with a 97% likelihood it will last into early spring 2027. Sea surface temperatures in the Nino 3.4 region are now 1.2 degrees Celsius above average. El Nino warms the central and eastern equatorial Pacific and can disrupt weather worldwide, often bringing wetter conditions to the southern United States, drier weather to Australia and East Africa, and fewer Atlantic hurricanes. Scientists said background warming from climate change could amplify its effects.