Super El Niño officially announced – here’s what it means

What makes an El Niño event a Super El Niño?

The current El Niño, or a "very strong" El Niño, is already one of the most powerful on record, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects it to continue until at least March. 

Its Climate Prediction Center said on Thursday that the event is still intensifying and could have a historic influence on weather patterns over the coming months.

El Niño occurs when surface waters in part of the tropical Pacific become warmer than usual. 

NOAA declares an event when temperatures remain at least 0.5°C above average for five consecutive overlapping three-month periods. 

The “very strong” classification applies when sea temperatures exceed the average by at least 2°C for five consecutive three-month periods.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, temperature anomalies had already exceeded 4°C by November 12, as the warmer conditions continued to spread.

Scientists warn of lasting effects

El Niño's intensity can influence how severely weather patterns are disrupted around the world. 

Scientists have also warned that El Niño events appear to be becoming stronger and lasting longer.

It has also been suggested that these events are becoming stronger and lasting longer, while some have linked the current episode to the record-breaking heat recorded this year. Previous events took place in 2023–24, 2018–19, 2014–16, 2009–10 and 2004–05. 

The weather effects have differed from one episode to another, but the 2015 event offers an example of how El Niño can influence tropical storm activity. 

That year, the Atlantic recorded just 12 named systems, compared with 18 in the Eastern Pacific, a pattern similar to this year's.