The UN secretary general, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, said: \u201cEl Ni\u00f1o is being supersized before our eyes. The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an update this week, the Bureau of Meteorology said the El Ni\u00f1o was now forecast to peak in late spring or summer and \u201creach levels above the warmest observed since reliable records began in 1950\u201d.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o events tend to mean hotter and drier conditions for Australia\u2019s south and east in winter and spring, and can increase the risk of heatwaves, drought and bushfires.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o strength is assessed by analysing sea surface temperatures in a region of the equatorial Pacific known as Ni\u00f1o 3.4. The bureau has said the strength of an El Ni\u00f1o does not necessarily mean stronger effects for the continent.<\/p>\n
![\"\u2018Godzilla-level\u2019](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788462610_947_1920.jpg\")
\u2018Godzilla-level\u2019 El Ni\u00f1o could cause hottest year on record – The Latest<\/p>\n
However, bureau analysis of the unfolding event suggested this El Ni\u00f1o had already broken records.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been looking at the rate of warming observed in the last two months and it has been faster than any other event. Not only is it strong, but it has escalated rapidly,\u201d said Felicity Gamble, a senior climatologist at the BoM.<\/p>\n
Gamble said the relative sea surface temperatures in the Ni\u00f1o 3.4 region for the month of August were likely to be between 2.2C and 2.3C above average \u2013 higher than any previous August since 1950 (the year after which records are considered to be more reliable).<\/p>\n
She said forecasts were suggesting relative sea surface temperatures in that region could peak over 3C above average, compared to the highest previous figure of 2.6C observed in January 1983.<\/p>\n
Gamble said the relative sea surface temperatures in the Ni\u00f1o 3.4 region had warmed by more than 2C between February and July.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cNo other period in the historical record exceeds that. This is the first event where we have had that change exceed 2C in the space of six months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could be seeing a record in terms of the strength, and also the rate of warming and the duration.\u201d<\/p>\n
skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | When he publishes<\/p>\n Sign up to Clear Air Australia<\/p>\n Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Climate experts have said El Ni\u00f1o will likely combine with climate change to push global temperatures to record highs next year.<\/p>\n Gamble said in the Pacific region, El Ni\u00f1o was already contributing to droughts in Papua New Guinea, with food and water shortages and major wildfires in Indonesia.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Australia_climate_email_newsletter_square.png\")
<\/p>\n