Climate

Whether it’s ‘super’ or ‘Godzilla,’ El Niño is already breaking records

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 25/09/2026, 16:15:24 UTC.

Briefings

A recent analysis indicates the current El Niño event has already surpassed the record for the strongest El Niño, which occurred in November 2015. Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region reached 3.11 degrees Celsius above normal as of early September 2026, a figure significantly higher than the peak of 2015. Despite this, forecasts suggest the event will remain 'very strong' through the end of the year due to warm conditions in June, July, and August. The phenomenon is occurring against a backdrop of rapid global warming, with potential consequences including record heat-related deaths and severe droughts. The term 'super El Niño' is used colloquially by climatologists like Jeffrey Shaman to describe this unprecedented event, though it is not an official designation from major agencies.

Key points

• Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region reached 3.11 degrees Celsius above normal as of early September 2026, surpassing the 2015 record peak.
• Forecasts indicate the El Niño will remain 'very strong' through the end of the year due to warm conditions in June, July, and August.

Context and limitations

Data coverage is limited to early September 2026; forecasts for the remainder of the year are based on current models showing a 90% chance of continued strong conditions.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 25/09/2026, 16:18:34 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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