NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center reports an 81% chance the current El Niño will reach “very strong” status by Q4 2026, with a 97% chance of persisting into early 2027. Strengthening ocean and atmospheric signals suggest it could rank among the largest events since 1950. The outlook follows the Panama Canal Authority’s announcement of progressive Neopanamax draft reductions—49.5 to 49.0 feet on July 24, then 48.5 feet on August 15—as officials work to conserve water and avoid a repeat of the disruptive 2023-24 drought.
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Original Article from gCaptain | Written by Mike Schuler
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gCaptain Article: NOAA Warns El Niño Could Rank Among Strongest on Record, Raising Shipping Concerns
