Science
El Niño Then and Now
A 35-year satellite altimetry record lets scientists hold this year’s El Niño up against its strongest predecessors.
Advertisement
Topic
El Niño southern oscillation
Science
NASA Satellites Observe Historic 2026 El Niño
A phenomenon rarer than a solar eclipse and more powerful than any single storm system is unfolding this fall, and NASA is tracking it closely. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that emerges roughly every two to seven years marked by warmer-than-normal water temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific. NASA scientists are keeping […]
Weather
Why the strengthening El Niño means fewer Atlantic hurricanes
The weather pattern is associated with extreme, stormy weather, but authorities predict a quiet year in one ocean at least ‘Supersizing before our eyes’: UN warns of record El Niño approaching One significant effect of the stronger El Niño is fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic. In the 30 years to 2020, on average the first hurricane arrived by 11 August, the second by 26 August and the third by 7 September. This year the total so far has been zero. At the start of the season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a quiet year, anticipating between three and six hur
Weather
Why El Niño can mean less rain but heavier downpours for India
El Niño is associated with weaker monsoons in India – but research suggests it can also bring more extreme rainfall The world is bracing for a “super” El Niño, and its effects are already being felt in India, where the monsoon has brought less rain than average but more intense downpours. Meteorologists predict that the current El Niño, which is developing over the Pacific, could be one of the strongest in living memory. India is likely to be heavily affected, particularly later in the monsoon, when El Niño’s influence tends to strengthen. Continue reading...