SCIENTISTS have issued fresh warnings that the developing El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean could become one of the strongest ever recorded, with the potential to propel global temperatures to record-breaking levels by 2027.
Recent data indicates sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific have risen by approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal levels, an early signal associated with the formation of El Niño, which occurs when ocean waters become significantly warmer than average.
The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has forecast that the phenomenon is likely to emerge in the near term and strengthen through the end of the year, with a high probability of developing into a strong or “super El Niño”.
Climate models further suggest temperatures in the central Pacific could climb by as much as 3°C by the autumn season, a level that could place the event among the most powerful in recorded history.
Experts warn that if the phenomenon persists into next year, it could push average global temperatures to their highest levels ever observed, placing 2027 at risk of becoming the hottest year on record.
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that disrupts weather systems around the world.
While it can trigger severe flooding in parts of South America, it also heightens the threat of prolonged drought across Southeast Asia and Australia. Scientists say the phenomenon may also fuel intense heatwaves, wildfires, powerful storms and disruptions to global food supplies as agricultural yields decline.
Climate specialists have cautioned that the impact of this El Niño event could prove especially dangerous because it is unfolding against the backdrop of ongoing global warming.
The combination of rising baseline temperatures and a potentially powerful El Niño, experts say, could significantly increase the likelihood of extreme weather disasters and severe humanitarian consequences worldwide. - May 15, 2026
