NOAA Declares El Nino, 'Super' Event Possible
NOAA's declaration of a potentially 'super' El Nino has direct implications for US weather, agriculture, energy and disaster planning over the coming year — and science_tech is underrepresented in recent editions.
The Morning Brief · June 12, 2026 · Based on reporting by Scientific American
El Nino has officially arrived, NOAA scientists declared this week. Forecasters warn it could become one of the most severe events on record. El Nino brings unusually warm surface water to the eastern tropical Pacific. The pattern typically lasts nine to 12 months. Forecast models suggest a strong chance it intensifies into a so-called 'super' El Nino by winter.
The timing matters. El Nino releases stored ocean heat into the atmosphere, and scientists say it could tip 2026 toward a new record hot year. Past strong events brought drenching winter storms to California, drought to Australia and Southeast Asia, and disrupted harvests worldwide. One researcher warned the pattern will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. U.S. farmers, utilities, and disaster planners are already adjusting plans for the year ahead.
Sources
Scientific American — El Nino is here and could tip Earth to a new record hot year
Scientists have officially declared El Nino conditions, which could push global temperatures to a new record.
Fast Company — El Nino is here—and it will 'pour fuel on the fire of a warming world'
NOAA warns the newly arrived El Nino could become one of the most severe on record, amplifying extreme weather worldwide.
Science & TechnologyApple and Intel Strike US Chip Manufacturing Deal
CNBC Top News
Science & TechnologyTrump Administration Forces Anthropic to Shut Down Two AI Models
Ars Technica
Science & TechnologyNASA Names Artemis III Crew for Lunar Mission Test Flight
Al Jazeera
Science & TechnologySmall Nuclear Reactor Reaches Criticality in First US Test
Ars Technica