Record El Niño Could Bring California Floods, Extreme Weather
A potentially record-breaking El Niño event is forecast to intensify, with ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific reaching unprecedented levels for this time of year. According to Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, this 'super El Niño' could peak between October and December 2026, with its most significant impacts expected from December through March. California is likely to experience a wetter-than-average winter, particularly in central and southern regions, raising the risk of inland flooding and coastal erosion. Warmer ocean waters are already disrupting marine ecosystems and increasing heat-related health risks. Other regions, such as the Pacific Northwest, may see worsening drought and wildfire conditions, while the southeastern U.S. is expected to have a wetter winter, alleviating local droughts. Hawaii, however, faces below-average precipitation and worsening drought conditions. (Source time: 2026-08-28 13:45:00 GMT) 
