National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists announced on Thursday, April 9, that the La Niña climate pattern has ended, with an El Niño expected to develop later in 2026. This shift has significant global weather implications, potentially impacting hurricane seasons in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Some computer models suggest the incoming El Niño could be exceptionally strong, leading to concerns about unprecedented global heat extending into 2027, though federal scientists remain more cautious. El Niño, a natural warming of Pacific Ocean waters, has historically coincided with some of the hottest years on record. The planet is currently in an intermediate "ENSO-neutral" phase.