Strengthening El Niño Expected to Make 2027 the Hottest Year on Record

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially declared the onset of El Niño, which is expected to strengthen through the end of 2026. Scientists predict that a strengthening super El Niño is loading the atmosphere with heat, potentially delaying the peak impact until 2027. This, combined with greenhouse-driven warming, could intensify extreme weather and push global temperatures to a new record in 2027, making 2026 the second-warmest year on record.