Australian climate scientist says El Niño expected to peak in December

Andrea Taschetto, an Australian climate scientist and associate professor at the Center for 21st Century Weather Extremes under Australia's Climate Research Council, said El Niño is expected to peak in December. Taschetto noted that El Niño historically reaches its peak around the end of the year, in December, and weakens during the Northern Hemisphere's late winter and spring, between February and May. She said the current El Niño is showing classic development patterns and is expected to weaken after reaching its projected peak. Observations indicate the phenomenon could persist through the end of 2026, Taschetto said, adding that sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean have risen above expectations and are forecast to continue climbing as El Niño develops. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon driven by above-normal warming of tropical Pacific Ocean waters, which alters ocean–atmosphere interactions and can trigger cascading weather shifts worldwide. While the pattern raises the likelihood of drought in some regions, it is also expected to bring heavier rainfall and more humid conditions to others.