Could we see a strong El Nino this year?
Randy Mann.
JAKE PARRISH/Press
We currently have a weak, cooler than average sea-surface temperature event, La Nina, in the waters of the south-central Pacific Ocean. According to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center, the La Nina is expected to weaken in April to a neutral, or La Nada, which is the in-between cooler La Nina and warmer El Nino. Forecasters are also saying that a new El Nino is likely to form during the summer season and continue through the end of the year. There is also a good chance that this new El Nino could be very strong at the end of 2026. While La Ninas and El Ninos usually span across two calendar years, it is not uncommon for one phase to end and the other to begin within the same 12-month period.
A strong El Niño occurs when unusually warm ocean temperatures develop in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, altering atmospheric circulation and weather patterns across the globe. In the United States, these changes are especially noticeable during the winter months and can bring both benefits and hazards depending on the region.
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