El Niño under way and threatens weather extremes, scientists say

US scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have declared that El Niño conditions are now under way in the tropical Pacific, with sea surface temperatures having risen sharply in recent months. This warming phase is expected to bring disruption to weather, food supplies, and economies, and could lead to another record-hot year, particularly in 2027. El Niño's intensity is measured by how far sea surface temperatures rise above average in a key zone of the Pacific, with a strong event defined as more than 1.5C above average.