El Niño sets a new daily sea‑surface record — 3.05°C above average on 19 September
Daily sea‑surface temperatures in the central‑eastern Pacific reached 3.05°C above average on 19 September, beating the 2015 record while the event continues to strengthen.
El Niño has reached record daily sea-surface warmth in a key part of the central‑eastern Pacific, scientists monitoring the event report, even though the phenomenon has not yet reached its expected peak.
On 19 September the daily sea surface temperature in the critical central‑eastern Pacific region was 3.05 °C above the long‑term average, surpassing the previous daily record of 3.02 °C set during the very strong El Niño of 2015.
Some longer‑term indicators of El Niño have not yet hit record highs, but researchers say that is likely to change as the event continues to strengthen and the overall peak is not expected until the end of this year.
What this means for weather patterns
El Niño alters atmospheric circulation and can shift weather patterns worldwide. Forecasters warn the event can produce a range of impacts — from altered precipitation and storm tracks to shifts in global temperatures — and say many of the expected effects are already being felt.
Meteorologists and oceanographers are continuing to watch temperature charts and climate models closely as the season progresses, noting that a single daily record does not by itself determine the full seasonal outcome but signals unusually strong ocean warming in the core El Niño region.
Photo: AP)
