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El Niño Reaches Record Strength, Expected to Persist Through Winter
El Niño is a natural pattern that makes parts of the Pacific Ocean warmer.
Japan’s weather agency says this El Niño has become the strongest recorded since 1949.
In September, ocean temperatures in a monitored part of the Pacific were 4°C above normal.
The previous record was 3.6°C in December 1997.
El Niño conditions have been present since spring 2026.
The agency expects the strong conditions to last through winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
El Niño can change winds, air pressure, and rainfall around the world.
These changes can raise the chance of droughts and floods.
Ocean heat can also contribute to higher global temperatures in the following year.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said El Niño reached its strongest intensity since records began in 1949.
Sea surface temperatures in the monitored central and eastern equatorial Pacific were 4°C above normal in September.
That reading exceeded the previous record of 3.6°C, recorded in December 1997.
The agency said El Niño conditions had persisted in the equatorial Pacific since spring 2026.
The strongest conditions are expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere’s winter and may peak at a record level this season.
- Who
- Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA).
- What
- The JMA reported record-strength El Niño conditions and said they are expected to persist through winter.
- Where
- The central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- When
- The agency’s assessment was reported on October 9, 2026; ocean temperatures were measured in September.
- Why
- The agency said the unusually warm sea-surface temperatures indicate an exceptionally strong El Niño, which can affect weather worldwide.
Key facts
- Agency
- Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA)
- September temperature anomaly
- 4°C above normal in the monitored region
- Previous record
- 3.6°C above normal in December 1997
- Records began
- 1949
- Conditions present since
- Spring 2026
- Expected duration
- Through the Northern Hemisphere’s winter
Sources
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