The US weather agency said Thursday that the El Nino pattern in the Pacific was strengthening and there was a 75 percent chance it would reach “historic” intensity this year.
Forecasters have been tracking an exceptional El Nino this year as the climate phenomenon has gained pace, driving tropical Pacific sea temperatures to record highs.
Scientists are increasingly confident this “super” El Nino could exceed any in the modern era, with potentially damaging knock-on impacts around the globe.
In its latest El Nino assessment, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the odds of a history-making event had increased since its last report a month ago.
“During the October-December 2026 season, there is a 75pc chance of a historic event that would exceed the strength of previous El Nino events dating back to 1950,” it said.
