This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback.
Dive Brief:
El Niño has developed in the Pacific Ocean, with warming water potentially upending U.S. weather patterns and complicating electric utility forecasting, say meteorologists at AccuWeather following NOAA’s June 11 declaration.
The return of El Niño could offer some relief to utilities preparing for another active Atlantic hurricane season, but it may increase operational risks elsewhere on the grid, experts said. The previous El Niño episode persisted from 2023 into 2024.
The climate pattern is developing unusually early and is strengthening quickly, allowing it to exert greater influence on weather conditions across the United States. The outlook comes as utilities continue to invest in grid resilience and storm response capabilities.
