Daily Briefing: Earth's El Niño worries
Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Start with these stories:
- Trump, Iran at odds days into ceasefire. Will peace last?
- The Artemis II crew faces a risky reentry before splashdown on Earth.
- Know the Friday Masters tee times.
Nicole Fallert and Jane Onyanga-Omara here, bringing you the news to know on Friday. We have the latest on a major climate shift and Artemis II astronauts are almost home.
Earth is going to get hot
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a long-anticipated shift in a powerful global climate pattern on Thursday as worry grows about global heat patterns.
What they said: NOAA says the La Niña climate pattern has officially come to an end, and that an El Niño is expected to develop later this year.
This has major implications: El Niño, a natural warming of Pacific Ocean water that affects weather around the world, often leads to some of the hottest years on record, such as the record-breaking worldwide average temperature in 2024. The prospect of a strong El Niño has rattled forecasters, who fear an unprecedented wave of global heat into 2027.
Meanwhile, an initial hurricane forecast was a mixed bag. But El Niño can have a huge impact on the severity of the hurricane season in both the Atlantic and the Pacific: It tends to reduce activity in the Atlantic and boost activity in the Pacific.
More news to know now
- Splash down! The Orion spacecraft carrying the crew of Artemis II is set for a water landing Friday off the California coast
- A change to the military draft: The Selective Service System will implement the switch to automatic registration by December.
- Sports meets politics: Just weeks ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, local leaders voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that will block police and city government employees from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal immigration agencies.
Take a look
What to know about the Masters Gnomes at Augusta
Before the 2026 Masters Tournament action officially got underway on Thursday, fans spent the early part of the week shopping for exclusive event merchandise. Among the most popular items was the Masters' Gnome. The Gnome has become a staple for the event during each of the past 10 years. The speculation that it may be the last year that the Gnomes are sold may have only sparked the demand and interest.
Something to talk about
Influencers in the desert
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is celebrating its 25th iteration this month, and influencers and music fans alike are headed to the desert for a hot lineup of performances kicking off on Friday (yes, Justin Bieber will be present!). The USA TODAY Network's Desert Sun will be reporting live all through the festival. Start with their tips for making your arrival as smooth as possible.
Before you go
- Know one player for all 32 teams who could be traded during the NFL draft.
- Could the "Big Mistakes" cast survive a life of crime?
- Explore the Atlanta Beltline.
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at [email protected].