1 week ago

Possible Super El Niño Could Reshape 2026–27 Weather Patterns

El Niño is a recurring climate pattern that starts in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

During it, warm ocean water moves east and changes rainfall and winds around the world.

Forecasts suggest the 2026–27 event could be unusually strong.

Scientists think it might become stronger than the 2015–16 record in one important Pacific measurement.

In India, it could mean more heat early in the year and a weaker summer monsoon later.

Other places could become drier, while some regions could receive heavier rain and floods.

El Niño can also change where tropical storms form.

It can briefly make the world warmer by releasing ocean heat into the air.

Human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions, not El Niño, remain the main cause of long-term global warming.

Key facts

Climate pattern: El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which also includes La Niña and neutral conditions.
Typical duration: El Niño and La Niña generally last nine to 12 months, though some events persist longer.
Potential intensity: Forecasts indicate the Niño 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly could surpass 2.75°C.
Previous record: The 2.75°C Niño 3.4 record was set during the 2015–16 El Niño.
India risk: El Niño can contribute to early-year heat, weaken the summer monsoon and raise drought risks in India.
Global temperature effect: A 1°C change in the Niño 3.4 region is broadly associated with about a 0.1°C change in global average temperature, after roughly three to six months.
Scientific terminology: “Super El Niño” is not a formal scientific classification.

businesstoday.in · 1 week ago