El Niño could be here soon, bringing wild weather and a hotter climate | CNN

There are increasing indications El Niño is likely to form and strengthen into potentially a significant event during the next several months, throwing weather patterns worldwide out of whack. El Niño could affect the Atlantic hurricane season (if the timing is right) and heat the planet even further, making another record warm year much more likely than it otherwise would be either this year or next. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an El Niño watch on Thursday morning, meaning conditions are favorable for it to develop during the next six months. NOAA meteorologists predict El Niño will develop some time between June and August and last through at least the end of the year, and there is a 1-in-3 chance it will become “strong” by the winter months — which would have a significant impact on winter weather in the US. El Niño and La Niña are periodic climate cycles in the tropical Pacific Ocean that occur every few years and can have profound effects on global weather patterns. They can bring flooding to parts of Africa and drought to other areas, help pummel the West Coast with winter storms while leading to more heat extremes globally in the ca