El Niño 2026 Warning: Why experts fear weak monsoon and extreme heat could hit India this year Global weather agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are growing more confident that El Niño conditions could develop later this year, potentially disrupting India’s monsoon rainfall. Scientists warn that the phenomenon could lead to weaker monsoon rains and higher temperatures, urging early preparation despite uncertain forecasts. The next two months are critical for clearer signals about the developing weather pattern. According to the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) under NOAA, the likelihood of El Niño forming between June and August has risen to 62%, with projections suggesting it could climb to over 80% in the following months. This marks a significant increase from the agency’s earlier forecast in February, which estimated a 52% chance of El Niño occurring between July and September, with a projected rise to around 60% later. The updated outlook indicates that the Pacific Ocean is gradually warming, a typical sign of El Niño’s onset. El Niño, characterized by the warming of surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, disrupts global wind patterns and influences weather systems worldwide. In India, the phenomenon has historically been linked to below-average monsoon rainfall. Since 1980, 14 El Niño years have occurred, with nine of them coinciding with deficient monsoons—rainfall at least 10% below the long-term average. For example, in 2018, monsoon rainfall was 9.4% below normal. Veteran meteorologist M Rajeevan, a former secretary in India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized the strong historical connection between El Niño and weaker monsoons, urging early preparations despite the uncertainty in forecasts.#india #el_nio #national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration #climate_prediction_center #indian_ocean_dipole
