Could we see a ‘super El Nino’ this year? What to know

(NEXSTAR) – A renowned research and modeling organization’s most recent forecast shows the planet could see a strong or “super” El Nino this year.

El Nino is a cyclical and natural warming of patches of the equatorial Pacific that then alters the world’s weather patterns. The phenomenon is dubbed a super El Nino when the temperature rises at least 2.0°C above normal.

La Nina is marked by cooler than average waters. Both shift precipitation and temperature patterns, but in different ways. El Ninos tend to increase global temperatures and La Ninas depress the long-term rise. La Ninas tend to cause more damage in the United States because of increased hurricane activity and drought, studies have shown.

While we are currently in a La Nina phase, recent models from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) suggest a 98% chance of a moderate El Nino event by August, with an 80% chance of a strong event and a 22% chance of a super event.

“All signs are increasingly pointing to a significant, if not strong to very strong, El Niño........

© The Hill