El Niño Strengthens, Threatens U.S. Lakes in 2027
The strengthening El Niño, with a 90% probability of becoming a very strong event during the fall and winter of 2026–27, is already impacting weather patterns across the United States, according to NOAA (source time: September 10, 2026). El Niño is expected to shift the U.S. storm track southward, leading to warmer, drier conditions in northern regions and cooler, wetter conditions in the south. These changes could significantly affect lakes and reservoirs, particularly in areas impacted by the 2026 Canadian wildfires. Smoke from the fires delivered nutrients to watersheds, which, combined with altered winter conditions, could lead to oxygen deficits and harmful algal blooms (HABs) in 2027. The effects of these events may persist for years, as seen in Lake Superior after the 1997–98 El Niño winter.
