El Niño ties record intensity, scientist reports

The El Niño weather pattern has intensified to a level that ties it with the strongest events on record, according to a senior scientist speaking to AFP on Monday. Using the Oceanic Niño Index, the widely accepted metric for measuring the phenomenon’s strength, the current episode has reached the same three‑month average sea‑surface temperature anomaly that characterized the 1997‑98 and 2015‑16 events, which are historically regarded as the most powerful. Researchers note that the surge in warm water across the central and eastern Pacific is already producing measurable impacts across a broad swath of the globe, from altered rainfall patterns in Central America to heightened storm activity in Indonesia.

Meteorologists and climate agencies are monitoring the development closely, warning that the heightened intensity could exacerbate drought conditions in parts of South America while increasing the risk of flooding in Southeast Asia. The widespread influence underscores the interconnected nature of the global climate system, prompting governments and disaster‑response organizations to prepare for potential agricultural, water‑resource, and public‑health challenges as the El Niño persists through the coming months.