Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are forecast to increase to record levels during October–December 2026, reflecting the strengthening of the El Niño event, which will drive weather patterns and affect economies, ecosystems and communities across the globe.
It’s already here. Hurricane Rachel has been heading west away from the southern tip of Baja California all week and bringing tons of weather to Mexico as well as up the US west coast. It’s forecasted to turn north now and bring rains next week to Southern California which has been under an extreme heat warning for a week as Rachel pulled hot air out of all Southwest deserts.
Rachel is followed by hurricane Simon which is already underway in the same zone of warm water (that’s the El Niño part). And there’s a hurricane Isaias in the Gulf of
AmericaMexico driving weather most of the way up the east coast.