Possible 'Super El Niño' could alter 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast

Name: Possible 'Super El Niño' could alter 2026 Atlantic hurricane season forecast
Uploaded: 2026-03-19T14:57:27Z
Duration: 4 min 57 s

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According to the latest outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and the International Research Institute (IRI), the La Niña pattern is now breaking down, with neutral conditions likely to take over within the next month. NOAA has issued an El Niño Watch as conditions are expected to develop within the next six months. A number of projections point to around an 80-90 percent chance of a strong El Niño taking hold. Historically, a strong El Niño is associated with fewer tropical systems overall, but it only takes one to create major impacts.