The Cumberland Times-News
·Jul 2026
El Niño powers up as forecasters predict historic strength and a rainier winter for the U.S. South
NOAA reports that the current El Niño is intensifying and has an 81% chance of reaching very strong levels by fall, potentially ranking among the strongest since 1950. The warming of the equatorial Pacific is expected to influence global weather patterns, including a wetter-than-usual winter in the U.S. South. Forecasters highlight significant temperature and atmospheric impacts as the climate phenomenon develops.