A very powerful El Niño, known as a Super El Niño, is quickly forming in the Pacific Ocean and could become one of the strongest ever recorded.
Deep beneath the Pacific, a huge mass of unusually warm water is moving across the ocean, raising concerns among scientists. This giant underwater heat wave, called a Kelvin wave, stretches nearly 9,000 miles and carries temperatures up to 13.5°F above normal in some regions.
As the warm water moves east toward South America, it rises closer to the surface and blocks the colder, nutrient-rich waters that normally help balance global weather patterns. Since oceans hold heat much longer than land, experts warn this massive buildup of heat could intensify climate problems through late 2026 and 2027.
Possible impacts include record-breaking heatwaves, severe droughts, stronger storms, and major flooding across different parts of the world.
Why it matters:
A Super El Niño can affect weather across the entire planet, making extreme climate events more intense and more frequent. Rising ocean temperatures can drive dangerous heatwaves, worsen droughts that threaten food and water supplies, and fuel heavier rainfall and flooding in vulnerable regions.
Scientists fear this event could push global temperatures to new records, putting extra pressure on ecosystems, agriculture, energy systems, and public health worldwide.
Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Is it manmade environmental effect or cyclical pattern of weather globally? This can be understood through geological historical data. Can you provide some information on this?