Federal forecasters confirmed Thursday, June 11, that El Niño has officially arrived in the tropical Pacific.
Experts confirm that there is a very high chance that it will turn into a rare “Super” El Niño, surpassing the record for the strongest ever recorded since 1950.
Given the current situation, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has issued a new advisory announcing that sea surface temperatures are expected to increase above average in the central and eastern Pacific.
The agency confirmed that there is a 63% chance that this El Niño will reach “very strong” status between November and January, potentially causing global weather disruptions.
As sea temperatures rise, the Pacific Ocean is expected to experience a higher than average number of intense hurricanes. However, on the Atlantic coast, El Niño will destroy many tropical storms, resulting in a below-average hurricane season for Florida and the East Coast.
For the coming winter (December – February)
- South and Southeast: The southern portion of the United States, from California to the Carolinas, is expected to experience wet and cool weather. While this may bring drought relief to Texas and Florida, it will increase the likelihood of storms and flooding.
- North and Midwest: Above average temperatures can be expected in areas from the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes region. While this may look pretty, it also means less snowfall on the ski slopes and possibly the formation of ice storms instead of white snowflakes. The bright side is that it would require less money for heating.
- California: Although El Niño is characterized by torrential rains and mountain snow (which is good for reservoirs), meteorologists have warned of potential atmospheric rivers contacting Southern California and causing landslides and beach erosion.
Global hotspots
Droughts and heatwaves are expected in Australia, Indonesia and India over the coming months, raising concerns about wildfires and crop failures.
