• NOAA confirms strengthening El Niño, with 81% chance of very strong conditions in October–December 2026

    ByRishav Kothari

    El Niño is present and strengthening across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed on August 3, 2027.Meanwhile its July strength outlook gives an 81% chance of very strong conditions during October–December 2026. WMO’s August–October 2026 outlook also shows associated shifts in seasonal temperature and rainfall probabilities across multiple regions.NOAA maintains an El Niño Advisory.

  • Negative Southern Annular Mode develops, bringing snow, storms and colder conditions to southern Australia

    ByReet Kaur

    A negative Southern Annular Mode (SAM) developed over the Southern Hemisphere on July 18, 2026, triggering a sharp shift in Australia’s winter weather. The change is expected to push cold fronts farther north through the remainder of July, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds, hail and low-level snow to Tasmania while leaving much of eastern New South Wales dry and unusually mild, according to Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino. Forecast models indicate the negative phase is likely to persist for the rest of the month.

  • Rare Atlantic Niña develops as strengthening El Niño points to quieter 2026 Atlantic hurricane season

    ByRishav Kothari

    A rare Atlantic Niña has developed across the equatorial Atlantic while El Niño continues strengthening in the tropical Pacific. Although Atlantic Niña events are relatively uncommon, forecasters say the developing pattern could reinforce atmospheric conditions that typically suppress tropical cyclone formation across the Atlantic basin.

  • Strengthening El Niño and Atlantic cold anomaly in focus for Winter 2026–27 outlook

    ByRishav Kothari

    A strengthening El Niño and a persistent cool sea-surface-temperature anomaly in the subpolar North Atlantic, associated with the feature known in climate research as the North Atlantic warming hole, may influence large-scale atmospheric circulation during early Winter 2026–27 across North America and Europe, according to seasonal forecast guidance from major international forecasting centers.

  • High concentrations of Saharan dust affect Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, moving west toward Florida and Texas

    ByTeo Blašković

    High concentrations of Saharan dust are affecting Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 26, 2026, reducing visibility and air quality as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) moves west. Drier Saharan air is forecast to reach South Florida from late Saturday, June 27, followed by a dust plume over Southeast Texas late Sunday, June 28, where hazy skies and reduced air quality are possible.

  • Polar vortex disrupted as major sudden stratospheric warming develops over the Arctic

    ByTeo Blašković

    Multiple atmospheric diagnostics show that a major sudden stratospheric warming is underway over the Arctic, with strong planetary wave activity, rapid polar warming, and reversal of the stratospheric jet indicating a significant disruption of the polar vortex circulation. This type of stratospheric disruption can influence atmospheric circulation patterns in the coming weeks, sometimes increasing the likelihood of cold air outbreaks across parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

  • Polar vortex split to impact Northern Hemisphere weather in March 2026

    ByRishav Kothari

    Another warming of the Arctic stratosphere is now underway, with the polar vortex forecast to undergo a final split in March 2026. The zonal mean wind reversal around 60°N and 10 hPa is expected between February 28 and March 1, with its impacts propagating into the troposphere, likely shifting weather patterns over Europe and North America.