Seth Borenstein

Forecasters report that a rapidly intensifying El Niño has an 81 percent chance of reaching very strong levels by fall, with Pacific Ocean temperatures nearing record highs partly due to human-driven warming. Scientists warn it may rival or surpass the extreme 1997–1998 event, increasing the likelihood of severe droughts, heavy rainfall and unusual seasonal temperatures across multiple regions. The strong El Niño is expected to suppress Atlantic hurricanes and could drive global temperature records in the next year, raising the risk of significant new climate extremes.