RECORD-high sea-surface temperatures in a key Pacific Ocean zone have heightened concerns that 2026 could become the hottest year on record, as an intensifying El Niño adds to global warming, the European Union’s climate monitoring service said on Monday.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service said temperatures in the Niño 3.4 monitoring region reached an unprecedented 29.7 degrees Celsius in September, exceeding peak readings recorded during the major El Niño events of 1982-83, 1997-98 and 2015-16.
Global weather forecasters have warned for months that the current El Niño could become one of the strongest on record, with temperature records being broken even before the phenomenon is expected to peak later this year.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving the temporary warming of sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific. It can alter weather patterns worldwide, increasing the risk of droughts and floods while adding to the warming driven by human activities.
However, Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo told AFP that it was too early to conclude whether the current episode, which emerged in June, would be the strongest ever recorded.
Climate change has raised ocean temperatures, potentially making recent El Niño events appear stronger than historical episodes and complicating comparisons across decades.
Copernicus said it had begun using a new index that accounts for warming across the tropical oceans. Data from the index suggest the current event has yet to surpass the strength of previous El Niño episodes. - October 14, 2026