Climate scientists are monitoring an increasing 62% chance of an El Niño forming in 2026, supported by high subsurface ocean heat and weakening trade winds. While some media outlets warn of a “Super El Niño,” experts clarify that “super” is not an official scientific term and usually refers to a “strong” event, which currently has a one-in-three chance of occurring. El Niño events are predicted to raise global temperatures by 0.1°C to 0.2°C. Researchers at Columbia University suggest that while a “strong” event so soon after the 2023-2024 cycle would be surprising, global warming may be accelerating the “recharge” of ocean heat. Ultimately, experts emphasize that the overall acceleration of ocean surface warming is a more critical concern than the specific frequency of these irregular climate patterns.
Date: March 31, 2026. Source: euronews.com