International News: Powerful El Niño developing as Pacific ocean heats up
By Zoila Palma: Sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific, the region at the heart of the El Niño climate pattern, are already significantly above average and continue to climb, according to information from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The Niño 3.4 index, a key measure used to monitor El Niño conditions, recorded sea […] The post International News: Powerful El Niño developing as Pacific ocean heats up appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
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By Zoila Palma: Sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific, the region at the heart of the El Niño climate pattern, are already significantly above average and continue to climb, according to information from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The Niño 3.4 index, a key measure used to monitor El Niño conditions, recorded sea surface temperatures 1.5°C above average from May to July 2026, rising to 2.0°C above average in July. Weekly measurements from late July through mid-August showed even warmer conditions, ranging between 2.2°C and 2.6°C above average. Subsurface ocean temperatures were more than 8°C above average in some areas during July and early August.
Forecasts indicate that El Niño conditions could strengthen considerably over the coming months, with multi-model projections suggesting Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature anomalies could reach approximately +3.6°C.
The event is currently expected to peak around November and December 2026, potentially producing significant impacts on weather and climate patterns in areas far beyond the Pacific.
The WMO also expects a positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole to develop, reaching an average value of about +0.9°C between September and November 2026, while the equatorial Atlantic is forecast to remain warmer than normal. The combination of these climate patterns could reinforce, weaken or alter the typical effects of El Niño in different parts of the world.
El Niño can influence weather patterns thousands of kilometres from the tropical Pacific, potentially affecting rainfall, temperatures and other climate conditions in different regions.
The WMO is urging everyone to rely on their National Meteorological and Hydrological Services for official warnings and region-specific climate information as conditions continue to develop.
The post International News: Powerful El Niño developing as Pacific ocean heats up appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
