Developing El Niño becomes strongest on record weeks before expected peak

Overview: The developing El Niño is now the strongest on record, with daily sea surface temperatures in a key region of the central-eastern Pacific exceeding 3.02°C by 0.03°C above average as of September 19th. This is far ahead of the previous peak recorded during the strong El Niño of 2015.

Key Points: - The developing El Niño is now the strongest on record, with daily sea surface temperatures in a key region of the central-eastern Pacific exceeding 3.02°C by 0.03°C above average as of September 19th. This is far ahead of the previous peak recorded during the strong El Niño of 2015. Scientists expect this to continue until later in the year, with implications for global weather patterns. El Niño can cause major shifts, such as warmer and drier conditions leading to more wildfires across Indonesia where over 12 million people are affected by fires fueled by the climate phenomenon. The unprecedented strength of this El Niño may lead to severe impacts on food security and economies worldwide, including reduced hurricane activity in the Atlantic and changes in monsoon rainfall patterns in India. Despite being thousands of miles from the tropical Pacific, the UK experiences increased chances of wet and stormy conditions during autumn and early winter due to El Niño effects. The Met Office continues to monitor its development and potential impact on weather around the world.

Summary: The developing El Niño is now the strongest on record, with daily sea surface temperatures in a key region of the central-eastern Pacific exceeding 3.02°C by 0.03°C above average as of September 19th. This is far ahead of the previous peak recorded during the strong El Niño of 2015.