Updated

Forecasters say a 'super' El Niño—potentially one of the strongest ever recorded—is now considered a near certainty for the current climate cycle, with wide-ranging effects beyond typical weather impacts. New maps show regions of the US Gulf Coast and elsewhere could see either heavy rain or extreme drought depending on location, while in the Philippines, PAGASA has warned that a very strong El Niño developing toward year-end will bring 'way below-normal' rainfall to most of the country—defined as a 60% or greater reduction in average monthly rainfall. The converging reports highlight growing concern among meteorologists and government agencies about how this El Niño event will disrupt seasonal rainfall, agriculture, and water supplies across multiple continents in the coming months.