A rare ‘super’ El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect

A cyclical weather phenomenon that can drive flooding in one continent and drought in another looks increasingly likely to emerge this year.

El Niño occurs when the atmosphere reacts to a sustained warming of Pacific Ocean surface temperatures above normal levels. The water has been rapidly heating up in recent months, and the odds of El Niño forming by the end of July have climbed to 82%, according to the US Climate Prediction Center.

The looming El Niño could be particularly powerful. There’s a 67% chance it may evolve into a strong or very strong event — what’s informally known as a “Super El Niño” — heading into 2027.

While El Niño originates in the Pacific, its impact stretches across continents, rippling through crop and energy markets. Its return would come at a tricky time for the global economy, which is already contending with an energy crunch, fertilizer shortages and  Read Entire Article