El Niño Likely to Stick Around This Summer In The Northern Hemisphere

The El Niño climate phenomenon is almost certain to last through the Northern Hemisphere summer, the U.S. weather forecaster said, raising the chance of heavy rain in the southern United States as well as South America, and scorching heat in Asia that could devastate crops of thirsty food staples like rice. El Niño also reduces the likelihood of a busy hurricane season, which lasts from June to November and can disrupt energy operations in the Gulf of Mexico.In its monthly report released on Thursday, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said El Niño, a phenomenon which warms sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, had a 90 percent likelihood of continuing through the summer. In April it estimated the odds at 70 percent. El Niño conditions will likely last through the end of the year, the CPC said, pegging the chance at 80 percent.