El Nino and La Nina information
El Nino and La Nina information, including sea surface temperatures, as applied to the pacific basin
www.weather.govHere’s a concise update on El Niño.
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What it is: El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, which tends to shift weather patterns globally, bringing wetter conditions to some regions and drier conditions to others. It can influence rainfall, drought, and storm activity across continents.[8]
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Latest status (as of mid-2025 through 2026 reporting): Forecasters have been monitoring for a potential El Niño event, with varying assessments on its strength and timing. The general expectation in recent years has been a tendency toward strengthening conditions that could persist into the subsequent year, though exact onset and intensity can fluctuate. For authoritative, current declarations, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and the World Meteorological Organization usually provide the official status and outlook updates.[3][5][8]
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Potential impacts to watch (typical patterns): If an El Niño strengthens, you might see wetter-than-average conditions in the southern United States and parts of South America, along with a higher likelihood of tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Pacific basin and drier conditions in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Asia. The precise regional impacts vary with strength and duration.[2][8]
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How to stay informed: Check updates from national meteorological agencies (NOAA CPC, ACM/WMO) and reliable science outlets for status and outlook maps, weekly ENSO diagnostic discussions, and seasonal precipitation forecasts.[2][8]
Illustration (how El Niño typically alters weather globally): warmer Pacific waters shift atmospheric circulation, often increasing rainfall in the Americas’ tropics and subtropics while reducing rainfall in some parts of Southeast Asia and Australia, with downstream effects on Atlantic hurricane activity and global weather patterns.[5][8]
Would you like a quick, region-specific snapshot (e.g., UK/Europe, North America, or Asia-Pacific) based on the latest official outlook? I can pull the latest forecasts for your area.[8]