The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on 12 November that the current El Nino, the strongest in decades, will move toward ENSO‑neutral conditions by spring 2027.
El Nino and its counterpart La Nina are phases of the El Nino‑Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate cycle that swings every 3‑7 years, with warm and cool ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific shifting global weather patterns.
NOAA meteorologist Nathaniel Johnson said in an October 2026 forecast that while the current El Nino could ease toward neutrality, a La Nina remains a possibility, but the window is still wide open.
If a La Nina emerges, it could trigger cooler, wetter conditions in Southeast Asia and droughts in the western United States, prompting governments to reassess flood and drought mitigation strategies.
A farmer in Rajasthan, who lost two plots to late‑season floods this year, says he is watching satellite data closely, hoping a La Nina might restore the monsoon balance.
Scientists will track sea‑surface temperatures and wind patterns through 2027, with the next WMO bulletin expected in March to confirm whether the El Nino has indeed ended.