NOAA: El Niño is (technically) here

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) increased the status of El Niño from watch to advisory, indicating that El Niño has officially arrived. The latest update, issued today by CPC and IRI, indicates a 50-60% chance of El Niño conditions persisting into the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. The update notes, however, that due to its weak expected strength and late timing, the widespread or significant impacts often associated with El Niño are not likely.

Our Tony Barnston explains in the video above why the team of scientists (of which he is a part) decided to make the change from watch to advisory.

The Australia Bureau of Meteorology also upgraded its El Niño status this week, from neutral to watch.

More about El Niño

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