El Niño events are a naturally occurring phenomena in the Pacific with a warm phase in a recurring climate pattern called El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. There’s a neutral phase and also a cooling phased called La Niña. An El Niño begins in the tropical Pacific with shifting winds pushing warm water toward the west coast of the Americas.
Climatologists have been calling this year’s El Niño ‘Super’ as it’s predicted to be incredibly strong. Showing strength this early bolsters the prediction as El Niño typically peaks in the winter months, most commonly in November or December. This supercharged ocean warming on top of already increased warming due to human-caused global heating is likely to cause havoc around the world, including storms, major droughts and wildfires.
