Pacific officially enters El Niño, US organization warns of 'very strong' event

The Pacific region is now officially experiencing El Niño, a cyclical weather pattern that typically leads to higher global temperatures and warmer oceans, according to an announcement by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center indicated a 63% probability that sea surface temperatures in the region will surpass 2.0°C. This threshold could classify the current El Niño event as "very strong." The agency's director, Ken Graham, noted that while each El Niño is unique, advanced monitoring and improved understanding allow for better public preparation.

This development occurs as the world grapples with a prolonged period of warm years. The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2025 was among the three warmest years on record, following 2023 and 2024. Amidst this global warming trend, Israel recently voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution that supported a World Court opinion asserting countries' legal obligation to address climate change. The resolution, initiated by Vanuatu, affirmed the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on reducing fossil fuel use and combating global warming. Israel, along with the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Yemen, Liberia, and Belarus, opposed the resolution, while countries like Turkey, India, Qatar, and Nigeria abstained.

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Every El Niño is not the same; each one is unique with its own imprint on our weather. Advanced monitoring and an improved understanding of El Niño patterns allow the NWS to better predict and better prepare the public and our core partners for what is to come.