Pacific temperature records fall as super El Niño intensifies

The short version

• Pacific Ocean temperatures linked to El Niño reached 3.05°C above the 1991–2020 average, surpassing the 3.02°C record from late November 2015 based on NOAA data.[The Guardian]
• Forecast models assessed by climate scientist Zeke Hausfather project temperatures could reach a peak of 4.0°C in November and December.[The Guardian]
• The World Food Programme warned that resulting weather extremes could push roughly 50 million people into acute hunger.[The Guardian]
• The full extent of subsequent global disruption remains uncertain, though experts anticipate the combined effect could make 2027 the hottest year recorded.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• The Pacific temperature anomaly tied to El Niño reached 3.05°C, exceeding the prior record of 3.02°C from November 2015 relative to the 1991–2020 baseline.[The Guardian]
• The alternative ONI (Nino3.4) metric sits 0.01°C below the 2015 high mark, based on NOAA data.[The Guardian]
• An average of 14 climate models evaluated by Zeke Hausfather projects the anomaly could reach 4.0°C in November and December.[The Guardian]
• The World Food Programme issued a warning in August that El Niño conditions could push around 50 million people into acute hunger.[The Guardian]
• The UN World Meteorological Organization initiated its largest operational mobilization in 50 years to aid national forecasters.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• ‘Jaw-dropping’: Super El Niño bursts through temperature record months ahead of peakThe Guardian - Science