ENSO Transition Forecast

March-May 2026 Climate Outlook

WMO Global Seasonal Climate Prediction Centers
La Niña Weakening

Current weak La Niña conditions are losing strength and transitioning toward ENSO-neutral state

Context

Pacific sea surface temperatures and atmospheric indicators show clear weakening since mid-February 2026

March-May 2026 Probabilities

60%
ENSO-Neutral
increasing
30%
La Niña Continues
declining
10%
El Niño Develops
minimal

Regional Forecast Breakdown

RegionNeutral ProbabilityLa Niña Probability
Central Pacific60%30%
Eastern Pacific60%30%
Combined Assessment60%30%
WMO Global Seasonal Climate Prediction Centers

WMO Monitoring Framework

  • Global Seasonal Climate Prediction Centers execute dynamic models
  • Periodic climate forecasts issued for upcoming months
  • Expert evaluations complement model outputs
  • National Meteorological Services provide regional interpretations
  • Continuous monitoring of ENSO evolution
  • Regular updates on climate variability impacts
Expert Assessment
“WMO Members and partners will continue to closely monitor ENSO evolution. Climate prediction experts will periodically develop more detailed interpretations of regional climate variability effects.”
— WMO Global Seasonal Climate Update
Critical Planting Season

March-May represents crucial agricultural planning period with heightened uncertainty

Context

Farmers face difficult crop selection decisions as ENSO patterns shift during spring predictability barrier

Food Security Warning

Unpredictable weather patterns during transition may disrupt crop planning, potentially causing food price spikes and threatening vulnerable populations in ENSO-sensitive regions.

ENSO Global Influence

  • Atmosphere-ocean interactions in tropical Pacific drive global weather patterns
  • Decades of research confirm worldwide climate impacts
  • Regional weather characteristics strongly influenced by ENSO state
  • Transition periods create heightened forecast uncertainty
  • Spring predictability barrier complicates seasonal forecasting
  • Agricultural sectors particularly vulnerable during transitions

Forecast Confidence Levels

ENSO-Neutral Confidence60%
La Niña Persistence30%
El Niño Development10%

Sources

  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Global Seasonal Climate Update
  • WMO Global Seasonal Climate Prediction Centers
  • National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
  • WMO Climate into the 21st Century (2003)
  • Regional climate variability assessments and expert evaluations