What to Expect from El Niño

El Niño is a weather pattern that has many effects around the world. It occurs when ocean water in the Pacific becomes warmer than normal. It can change weather conditions in different parts of the world, leading to changes in rainfall and temperature.

El Niño usually happens every few years, but there is no exact schedule. Some major El Niño years were 1982 to 1983, 1997 to 1998, and 2015 to 2016. These events were especially strong and caused noticeable weather changes in many regions. El Niño has and can affect anywhere from the Southern U.S. to Southern Africa. Some parts that were affected received more rain than usual, while others experienced drought or unusually warm temperatures.

This year, El Niño has popped up yet again! It started developing in June 2026, and is predicted to end around the spring of 2027. Specific to this year, scientists are expecting the effects to be more rain, warmer temperatures and waters and more storms. There is a 75% chance that this year will have more powerful effects than the previous, meaning 2026’s El Niño could be the strongest globally that anyone has seen.