Super El Niño confirmed, forecast to be strongest on record

A powerful El Niño event has officially reached "super" status, with new data showing it has breached the critical 2°C temperature threshold in the Pacific Ocean, marking what forecasters warn could be the strongest such climate pattern in at least 150 years. The development, confirmed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on September 14, 2026, is expected to peak by early 2027 and persist through the spring, with far-reaching consequences for global weather, food security, and shipping. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center reported that the sea-surface temperature anomaly in the key Niño 3.4 region has exceeded 2°C, classifying the event as very strong. Forecasts now predict the anomaly could reach between 3°C and nearly 4°C at its peak, a level that would surpass any recorded El Niño event. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated the phenomenon is "being supersized before our eyes," with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres adding that "the planet is in uncharted waters." The event, which began developing in June 2026, is already triggering significant global impacts.