This year's El Niño is already intense and growing stronger. Scientists expect it to become the strongest in at least 80 years of record keeping, potentially the most powerful in centuries. The event could drive an additional 49 million people into hunger, according to the United Nations' World Food Program, while temporarily boosting global temperatures exacerbated by climate change.

El Niño magnitude is measured by Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies. Temperatures must rise 2°C above normal to qualify as Super El Niño, but this year's event exceeds previous strong events from 1997, 2015, and 2023. It's unusual to have three strong El Niños in 11 years, with scientists divided on whether climate change is making events more frequent.

Sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are breaking records. In no other year have temperatures stayed above 29°C in July and August. The global average sea surface temperature reached 21.1°C, breaking the March 2024 record. El Niño is pushing global air temperatures higher, with scientists expecting 2027 to be the hottest year on record, while 2026's heat trajectory is also being altered.