Watchful waiting: What a strong El Niño warning means for coral reefs in Seychelles |03 August 2026

Watchful waiting: What a strong El Niño warning means for coral reefs in Seychelles

The third week of July was Coral Reef Awareness Week. It comes with a grave alert. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) latest forecast from June 2026 suggests that a strengthening El Niño is underway in the tropical Pacific, with the potential to reach “very strong” intensity during its peak from October to December 2026. This could lead to an uptick in heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events around the globe, as highlighted by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

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