US government weather experts today reaffirmed previous forecasts for a moderate El Niño, the weather anomaly blamed for devastating droughts and floods, by the end of this year.
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NOAA satellite image of developing El Niño taken on June 3rd. Image: The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency that first predicted El Niño's return five months ago, said it observed a significant warming within the Pacific Ocean in the last few weeks, indications of an impending El Nino.
The fingerprints of an awakening El Niño can already be found in South America, where the worst storms in 100 years hit Chile this week killing nine and leaving thousands homeless.
El Niño, or boy child in Spanish, is an abnormal warming of waters in the Pacific that usually occurs every four to five years and can last up to 18 months.