Californians should brace themselves for one of the strongest El Niño events to hit the Pacific Ocean in years.
Unusually warmer temperatures of equatorial water in the Pacific and shifting winds continued through July, indicating that El Niño will be strong through the fall and into next spring, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.
In fact, scientists say the likelihood that a significant El Niño will happen is more than 90%, and some models suggest there is a nearly 100% chance it will be strong this fall. Scientists previously said they expected a weak El Niño.