La Niña has officially ended; however, a powerful El Niño may be on the horizon.
According to WGN TV, the chances of a strong or “super” El Niño have increased since weather models first mentioned the possibility last month.
The El Niño pattern is now expected to develop between early summer (May to July) and is predicted to strengthen as we move into the winter months.
By the end of the year, the Climate Prediction Center estimates there is about a 50% likelihood that it could evolve into a “strong” or “very strong” El Niño, with nearly equal odds for both outcomes.
What are the impacts of a super El Niño?
It’s important to note that a super El Niño doesn’t automatically lead to severe storms or dangerous heat waves.
The Climate Prediction Center clarifies a common misconception: “Stronger events do not always mean bigger weather and climate impacts. However, stronger events do increase the likelihood of certain impacts occurring.”
According to NBC Chicago, in Chicago, the most significant effects tend to occur during the winter months, when moisture and storm patterns are more easily influenced by jet-stream dynamics—meaning a super El Niño typically results in warmer and drier winters for Chicago.