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Pacific Ocean El Niño reaches record intensity
A powerful El Niño phenomenon is developing in the Pacific Ocean, with scientists warning it could become one of the strongest in a millennium. NOAA reports a 90 percent probability that the event will evolve into a 'very strong' episode during the upcoming autumn and winter seasons.
Ocean temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region have already reached record-breaking levels, with a surface temperature anomaly of 3.11 degrees Celsius recorded in September 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2015. Unlike previous years, researchers from the Instituto Geofísico del Perú note that much of this warming is concentrated more deeply, below 200 meters.
The humanitarian implications are significant. The Climate Impact Lab projects that between June 2026 and February 2027, the resulting extreme heat could lead to approximately 451,000 additional deaths globally. The phenomenon is expected to disrupt global weather patterns, potentially causing increased droughts, floods, and extreme temperature shifts.
Entities
Climate Impact Lab · Instituto Geofísico del Perú · Matt Collins · NOAA · Pacific Ocean · University of Exeter
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Climate scientist Matt Collins suggests this El Niño could become the strongest in 1,000 years. www.korcaboom.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The current warming is concentrated more intensely below 200 meters of depth compared to the 2023 El Niño event. diariocorreo.pe
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Niño 3.4 region surface temperature anomaly reached 3.11 degrees Celsius on September 21, 2026, breaking the previous 2015 record. www.tempo.pt · www.tiempo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Climate Impact Lab projects approximately 451,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide between June 2026 and February 2027. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ocean temperatures in some parts of the Pacific are reaching more than 4 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. www.balkanweb.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] NOAA reports a more than 90 percent probability that the current El Niño will develop into a 'very strong' episode during autumn and winter. www.fehmarn24.de · www.leinetal24.de