Super El Niño breaks historical records months ahead of its expected peak

Climate scientist James Hansen reports that the current El Niño has already exceeded previous record levels in key ocean heat metrics, with the upper 300 meters of the eastern tropical Pacific warmer than during the 1997-98 event. The commonly used Niño3.4 sea-surface temperature index also shows unusually high values, though some experts note it has not yet matched the peak of earlier super El Niños. Hansen warns that the strongest effects are still several months away, raising concerns about extreme weather impacts.