El Niño is coming. Here's what that means for weather in the U.S.

A large section of the U.S. could see warmer temperatures than normal, NOAA said as it gave an update on current forecasts calling for an El Niño climate pattern. (NOAA)

As hot as the Earth's weather has been in recent years, it's about to get hotter: El Niño is on the way, with warmer sea temperatures promising new weather extremes, U.S. and international forecasters say.

For several years now, a persistent La Niña pattern in the equatorial Pacific Ocean has been easing some of the worst temperature rises, as well as shaking up precipitation patterns. But the World Meteorological Organization says that's all about to change.