Forecasters predict record-breaking El Niño could trigger unprecedented heat

The U.K. Met Office reports that the current El Niño, which began in early June, is intensifying and may become the strongest since the 19th century. Sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific could rise about 3 degrees Celsius above normal, exceeding the threshold for a 'Super El Niño.' If the forecast holds, 2026 and the following year could see record global temperatures.