EnvironmentGeography
News 0 of 24

El Niño Likely Post-July 2026 With 62% Chance, To Coincide With SW Monsoon Peak

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
13 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:62% chanceJune-August 2026Through at least end-2026February-April 2026
Bodies:NOAAMonsoon Mission Climate Forecast System
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.NOAA forecasts a 62% chance of El Niño emerging in June-August 2026, with persistence through at least end-2026.

2.El Niño development post-July would coincide with the peak of India's southwest monsoon season (June-September).

3.Past El Niño years correlate with abnormally high temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and below-average rainfall in India and globally.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

NOAA's latest bulletin forecasts a 62% chance of El Niño developing in June-August 2026, potentially impacting the peak of India's southwest monsoon. This is critical for exam preparation as El Niño events are directly linked to India's agricultural output, water security, and economic growth, making them a perennial focus for GS Prelims and Mains.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

El Niño Emergence Chance62%
Forecasted Emergence WindowJune-August 2026
Potential Impact PeriodThrough at least end-2026
SW Monsoon Peak PeriodJune-September
ENSO Phase Transition PeriodFebruary-April 2026

1-Minute Revision

  • ›El Niño Emergence Chance: 62%
  • ›Forecasted Emergence Window: June-August 2026
  • ›Target this Data: 62% chance of El Niño emergence in June-August 2026
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Not Applicable

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which international agency issued the El Niño forecast bulletin mentioned in the news article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the news article:

1. NOAA forecasts a 62% chance of El Niño emerging in June-August 2026.

2. If El Niño develops post-July 2026, it will coincide with the retreating phase of India's southwest monsoon.

3. India's Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System projects the transition to ENSO-neutral conditions during February-April.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the NOAA bulletin mentioned in the article, what is the forecasted probability (chance) of El Niño emerging in June-August 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary concern regarding the timing of El Niño's potential emergence as highlighted in the article?

All 25 MCQs ▸
You finished this topic
Explore Related Topics
Related Current Affairs
Environment Current Affairs

NOAA Projects 69% Chance of Historic El Niño Since 1950; IMD Reports Below-Normal Monsoon

A potentially historic El Niño is developing in the Pacific, with NOAA projecting a 69% chance it will exceed the strongest events since 1950. For India, the impact may lag by 40-45 days, likely after the southwest monsoon's official withdrawal, though the current monsoon is already 12% below normal.

Environment Current Affairs

UK Met Office Forecasts Record El Nino >3°C; 2027 Likely Hottest Year on Record

The UK Met Office has forecast the strongest El Nino in over a century, with Pacific sea surface temperatures rising over 3°C above normal. This unprecedented event could make 2027 the hottest year globally, impacting global weather patterns including drier conditions in India and severe droughts in South America and the West Pacific.

Environment Current Affairs

2026 Monsoon Prediction Failure: El Niño Accuracy vs. Sub-seasonal Erratic Evolution Challenges

Climate models accurately predicted the 2026 El Niño and a deficient monsoon season, but failed to capture the erratic, sub-seasonal swings—like June’s 40% deficit followed by July’s recovery—which severely impacted farmers. This highlights a critical gap: while seasonal all-India rainfall totals can be forecast, long-lead predictions of spatial and temporal monsoon evolution remain unreliable, and AI-driven hybrid models are the most promising way forward.

Environment Current Affairs

WMO Warns 'Very Strong' El Nino Till Feb 2027; Threat to Monsoon & Winters

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns of a 'very strong' El Nino that will persist until February 2027, with potential to disrupt global weather patterns, including India's monsoon and winter. This is a critical update for exam aspirants as it links to geography, climate, and agriculture.

Environment Current Affairs

Climate Impact Lab Report Projects 15,800 Additional Heat Deaths in India Due to Super El Nino

The Climate Impact Lab projects 15,800 additional heat-related deaths in India between Sept 2026 and Feb 2027 due to the ongoing 'Super El Niño'. Globally, 451,000 excess deaths are expected in the first six months. The report warns that this El Niño is a 'postcard from the future', bringing temperatures typical of 20 years from now without adaptation.

Environment Current Affairs

15,800 Excess Heat Deaths Projected in India Amid Super El Niño: CIL Report

A new report from the Climate Impact Lab warns of 15,800 excess heat-related deaths in India between September 2026 and February 2027, driven by a Super El Niño. Southern India is especially vulnerable. This is a 'postcard from the future' – a preview of climate impacts 20 years ahead.

Environment Current Affairs

Black Carbon Crisis: 1/3 Himalayan Glacier Loss Linked to 32-42% Brick Kiln Soot Emissions

A new Systemiq report titled 'A Resilient Himalaya' links about one-third of Himalayan glacier mass loss to South Asian black carbon, with brick kilns contributing 32–42% of the deposition. Since black carbon is a short-lived pollutant, reducing kiln emissions can simultaneously improve local air quality and slow glacier melt — a rare fast-win climate action for India.

Environment Current Affairs

Hurricane Polo Turns Category 5; Strong El Niño May Cause 451,000 Additional Global Heat Deaths

Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of 270 kmph. This is unfolding against an unusually strong El Niño that the WMO expects to persist through February 2027. El Niño is being watched closely because it can disrupt rainfall worldwide—the Climate Impact Lab projects 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally, including about 15,800 in India.