17/06/2026
A powerful El Niño has officially begun — and experts say it will drive global temperatures to unprecedented highs.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially declared the start of El Niño in the tropical Pacific, with sea surface temperatures rising sharply.
Computer models are showing striking confidence in its potential strength, predicting a 63% chance of a 'very strong' or even 'super' El Niño by late autumn, potentially ranking among the most intense events since records began in 1950.
While this natural climate pattern typically releases ocean-stored heat to raise global temperatures, scientists warn that this current cycle is riding on top of decades of human-caused warming. This combination could trigger unprecedented heat and severe weather anomalies worldwide.
The global consequences of a powerful El Niño are extensive and historically severe, threatening food supplies, agriculture, and local economies. Extreme weather patterns are expected to cause flooding in East Africa, South America, and the southern United States, while simultaneously raising drought and wildfire risks across Australia and Indonesia. Despite some regional differences in meteorological standards—such as Australia's Bureau of Meteorology maintaining a stricter threshold before declaring its arrival—international agencies agree that the coming months will demand high vigilance. As global temperatures continue to reach record-shattering heights, the onset of this El Niño represents a formidable catalyst for intensified environmental extremes.
source: McGrath, M., King, S., & Poynting, M. (2026). El Niño under way and threatens weather extremes, scientists say. BBC News.