CNN —Experts fear an already active hurricane season could come to an eventful and exceptional end as unusually warm, storm-boosting ocean temperatures and a slow-to-emerge El Niño combine. The first half of October is typically the final stretch of the busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season. The battle between warm ocean water and the effect of El Niño has posed a forecasting challenge throughout this hurricane season, as one factor is seemingly negating the other. “Usually as we get into the back half of the hurricane season, El Niño tends to dominate, even if the Atlantic is warm. “Is El Niño at some point going to say, ‘Forget this, I’m in charge?’” Klotzbach said.

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Persons: Phil Klotzbach, Hurricane Lee, Brian McNoldy, El Niño, Fischer, Klotzbach, we’ve, ” Michael Fischer, ” Fischer, Idalia, Lee –, El, ” Klotzbach, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Colorado State University, Atlantic, Hurricane, University of Miami Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Caribbean, Florida, Africa, Bermuda, East, El