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Five ways El Niño is affecting the weather around the world

The World Meteorological Organization expects the temperature anomaly could hit about three point seven degrees by December, and says the event should last into February; the measuring stick matters.

On air: Gloria Vance, Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell on The Couch Panel
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Photo: Content published by Rebecca Lindsey and reviewed by Tom… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance, Dr. Nina Byte and Chip Darnell on this story, from The Couch Panel at 7:38 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Photo: Content published by Rebecca Lindsey and reviewed by Tom… · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWeather West says this El Niño is already the strongest on record, and tonight's question is simple: if the record is a tie, does it still count?

  2. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt depends on the ruler.

  3. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentBy the weekly index it sits at plus three point three degrees against a previous record of plus two point one. That's a blowout.

  4. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnd by the other index, it's plus two point four against a record of plus two point three. A statistical tie.

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI find that the more honest number.

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorA tie still means we're in the record books, Gloria! Nobody checks the decimals on a welcome sign.

  7. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYou can't pick the ruler because it flatters you.

  8. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe World Meteorological Organization expects it could reach about three point seven degrees between October and December, so the argument may settle itself.

  9. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorChip's instinct is generous. He's wrong, but it's generous.

  10. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGloria, did you just say something nice?

  11. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI said the Atlantic hurricane season is record calm, according to the Washington Post. That is the nice thing.

  12. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentFine, the verdict. Hands up if it counts as a record.

  13. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorTwo hands. Mine and Nina's. Chip has his up for the tie.

  14. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI count nine hands.

  15. Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentYou have two arms.

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The story so far

  1. Indonesia wildfire fuelled by El Niño razes almost 300 homes · The Guardian
  2. Super El Niño sets another record as it strengthens · BBC
  3. Earth's vital signs hit record extremes as El Niño arrives · Wired
  4. Super El Niño linked to uptick in Galápagos iguana trafficking · Popular Science
  5. Orcas, sea snake and first turtle nests: California's El Niño guests · Yahoo
  6. Super El Niño turns the equatorial Pacific bluer, NASA satellites show · New York Post
  7. Five ways El Niño is affecting the weather around the world (this story)

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