El Niño May Return: Could Mean Hotter, More Extreme Summer Weather

Forecasters with the World Meteorological Organization say El Niño could develop by May–July, potentially a strong event that would raise global temperatures and alter rainfall patterns worldwide. A rapid warming is expected through May–July, with elevated heat across southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe and Northern Africa, and broad impacts on agriculture, droughts, floods and weather extremes. The WMO notes high confidence in onset and intensification, while NOAA forecasts a possibility of a very strong El Niño later in the year.