El Niño 'Imminent,' Could Reshape Weather Patterns. Here’s What It Means For NJ

An unusually fast-developing El Nino is expected to kick off this June rather than the typical fall start, and meteorologists say the stronger and quicker it builds, the more it can amplify extreme weather across the country. For New Jersey, the local impacts will depend on how storm tracks evolve later in the season, with elevation, coastal proximity, and storm timing all playing a role in what residents actually see. On the bright side, El Nino tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, and forecasters are now leaning toward the lower end of their 11 to 16 named storm projection for 2026.