El Niño phenomenon intensifies, impacting global weather patterns

El Niño climate change wildfires hurricanes extreme weather

The El Niño climate phenomenon is strengthening, with the World Meteorological Agency projecting it could persist until at least 2027. NASA satellite imagery indicates that current sea surface temperature anomalies in the central and eastern Pacific resemble the intense 1997-1998 event, showing warm water extending toward South America.

In Indonesia, the phenomenon has contributed to the worst wildfire season since 2015, with nearly 895,657 hectares burned since January. This has resulted in toxic haze affecting millions in Sumatra and Kalimantan, causing approximately 175,000 respiratory illness cases, including 40,000 involving toddlers.

In the eastern Pacific, hurricane activity has surged, with 22 named storms and 12 hurricanes recorded so far. Meanwhile, in Ecuador, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates an 83% probability that El Niño will reach record intensity between October and December 2026. Ecuador's National Committee for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon (ERFEN) has recorded temperature anomalies up to 4.7°C above average, and the country remains under a red alert following heavy rainfall that has affected over 29,000 people.

Entities

Ecuador · Indonesia · NASA · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · World Meteorological Organization

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] ERFEN recorded temperature anomalies of up to 4.7°C above average in Ecuador. www.extra.ec
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 175,000 people in Indonesia have suffered from respiratory illness due to haze. english.alsiasi.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] NOAA estimates an 83% probability that El Niño will reach record intensity between October and December 2026. www.extra.ec
[○ 1 SOURCE] Rainfall in Ecuador has affected more than 29,000 people. www.extra.ec
[○ 1 SOURCE] The eastern Pacific has seen 22 named storms and 12 hurricanes so far this season. english.alsiasi.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] NASA satellite imagery shows current Pacific sea surface anomalies resemble the 1997-1998 event. www.perupesquero.org
[○ 1 SOURCE] Indonesia has burned at least 895,657 hectares of land since January. english.alsiasi.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The World Meteorological Agency expects El Niño to persist until at least 2027. english.alsiasi.com