NOAA Warns of Historic El Niño: Farmers Insurance Urges Storm Prep Now
Los Angeles – September 17, 2026 -- NOAA forecasters say there is a greater than 90% chance the current El Niño will become very strong during fall and winter 2026-27, with a 69% chance it could exceed every El Niño measured since 1950. The warning comes as Farmers Insurance urges homeowners and business owners to review coverage before severe weather hits.
El Niño forms when parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm well above normal, shifting the jet stream that steers U.S. storm patterns. A strong event can bring heavy rain, flooding, powerful storms, landslides and dangerous winter weather, though impacts vary by region and are not guaranteed everywhere. The pattern typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts up to 12 months; the most recent one ran from 2023 to 2024.