Strong El Niño could change winter weather in the US — TIME
In the United States, a strong El Niño could bring a warmer-than-usual winter to the north of the country, while the south could see cooler and wetter conditions with a higher likelihood of rain and snow, TIME reports. Risper Nyairo, an associate professor at Davidson College, suggested that the phenomenon may be linked to fewer or less intense hurricanes, but with the possibility of stronger tornadoes during powerful thunderstorms.
What is forecast for the US
El Niño is a natural climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean in which waters in the central and eastern parts of the ocean are warmer than average. This year's phenomenon could become the strongest on record, experts predict.
Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and a research meteorologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, said that conditions in the tropical Pacific are approaching record-high temperatures. El Niño typically peaks in the final months of the year and is expected to remain active in early 2027.
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The combination of a warmer ocean and record warming linked to climate change could make 2027 the warmest year on record. The World Meteorological Organization has also warned that a strong El Niño could increase the risk of extreme weather events next year.
Precipitation, droughts and the coast
Rising Pacific Ocean surface temperatures intensify evaporation, Nyairo explained. In some regions, this could increase atmospheric moisture and precipitation, while evaporation over arid areas could worsen drought.
On the US West Coast, El Niño could cause higher waves and rising sea levels. Areas with dry conditions also face a growing risk of wildfires. Ralph stressed that weather patterns typical of El Niño do not guarantee a specific outcome, as weather is also influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole, the Madden-Julian Oscillation and atmospheric rivers, particularly in California.
