
Environment and Energy
El Niño Has Arrived: NOAA Warns It Could Become One of the Strongest on Record
NOAA officially declared El Niño conditions with a 63% probability it will become "very strong" during November-January, potentially ranking among the strongest since 1950. The Panama Canal Authority reduced maximum draft for Neopanamax vessels from 50 feet to 49.5 feet tropical fresh water beginning July 3. Canal transits have increased 8% year-over-year in 2026 to an average of 38 vessels per day, though El Niño's potential impact on rainfall patterns poses risks to operations.























