Federal weather officials confirmed Thursday that El Nino weather patterns have formed and are anticipated to grow stronger through the winter of 2026-27, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center.
The government weather agency noted that these El Nino conditions have emerged during the past month.
El Nino represents a natural climate event that happens when trade winds weaken, allowing warmer ocean temperatures to accumulate across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. This weather pattern generally results in elevated global temperatures and shifts in weather systems, creating drought conditions in certain areas while producing excessive rainfall in others.
“El Nino is likely to have a negative impact on crop yields in Southeast Asia and India, where El Nino is typically associated with below-normal rainfall,” said Kyle Tapley, enterprise sales executive at Vaisala Xweather’s WeatherDesk.
India’s monsoon season provides approximately 70% of the nation’s annual precipitation and remains crucial for its farming industry, which represents roughly 18% of the country’s nearly $4 trillion economy. Reduced rainfall amounts could result in diminished harvests for crops including rice, cotton and soybeans, while also affecting winter crop production.
In Indonesia, rice producers are working to plant earlier than usual as they prepare for potential extended dry conditions this year. Malaysia’s economic minister has cautioned that El Nino may reduce crop production by 8% to 10% on average during this period.
“El Nino typically leads to a less-active U.S. hurricane season and we expect a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year. However, it is important to remember that a strong hurricane is still possible even in a less-active hurricane season,” Tapley said.
The current U.S. hurricane season started June 1 and continues until November 30.
