The chaotic climate force is known for boosting hurricane activity some places and reducing it in others. Here's what to know.

A strong to very strong El Niño is currently developing. NOAA has factored this strong El Niño into Michigan’s summer forecast. You might not like or might love what you are about to see. El Niño is when a large blob of warmer-than-normal water works its way to the Pacific Ocean surface. The warm water starts to kink the jetstream in unusual ways.

With a potentially huge influence brewing in the Pacific Ocean, the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be quieter than usual. That’s the consensus of meteorologists with the major forecast services,

Talk of a "super El Niño" developing in 2026 is gaining momentum, with concerns rising that this climate pattern could bring extreme rainfall, heat, drought and destructive flooding around the world.

Some of the forecast models have been suggesting that the pending El Niño event, for the winter of 2026–27, could approach the higher extreme of the very strong range.

For decades, scientists have worked to improve predictions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate powerhouse that can cause droughts, flooding, marine heatwaves, and more around the world. Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa ...