'Super-duper El Nino' is here: Experts warn as Pacific temperatures soar

A powerful El Nino is continuing to intensify, with weather experts warning that the latest event could move into unprecedented territory. The United Nations' weather and climate agency, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has said this year's El Nino could rank among the strongest recorded since at least 1950.

The weather phenomenon is expected to add to the effects of human-driven climate change, with unusually warm conditions forecast across large parts of the planet.

'Earth is almost entirely in red'

Meteorologist Ryan Maue shared a climate map showing widespread warming across the globe and described the latest conditions as an exceptionally strong El Nino.

"El Nino continues at "maximum power" into the winter with planetary heating dialed up everywhere EXCEPT the United States," he said in a post on X.

Maue also agreed with the WMO's assessment that the current El Nino could continue through February 2027.

Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather pointed to the unusual strength of the warming in the Pacific. "This year's El Nino continues its climb into uncharted waters; Nino3.4 region anomalies are now at a 3.4 degrees Celsius above normal (how fitting!), higher than any prior El Nino event on record."

Weather expert Leon Simons has described the phenomenon as a "super-duper El Nino".

Pacific temperatures expected to soar

According to the WMO forecast, there is an overwhelming likelihood that sea surface temperatures will remain above average across large parts of the world during the final months of 2026.

The central and eastern tropical Pacific, which is at the centre of the El Nino pattern, is expected to see sea surface temperatures reach 3.7 degrees Celsius (6.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal between October and December.

The unusually warm Pacific waters are important because El Nino can influence weather patterns far beyond the region.

How El Nino affects global weather

El Nino is the warm phase of the naturally occurring El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle, a climate pattern that affects weather across different parts of the world.

It generally pushes global temperatures higher and can alter rainfall patterns over large areas. Some regions may experience drought, while others can see heavier rainfall.

The phenomenon typically occurs every two to seven years. With the latest event strengthening, climate and weather experts are closely watching its potential effects through the coming months.