El Nino could develop into the strongest event on record since 1950, with the phenomenon expected to peak between late autumn and early winter, according to forecasts by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
There is around a 70% probability that the current El Nino will become the strongest ever recorded, with the latest forecasts indicating that the phenomenon is approaching record-breaking intensity, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing NOAA data.
The expected strength could see the current event surpass the so-called Super El Nino recorded in 1982-1983.
Experts have also warned that the effects of El Nino could be amplified by global warming, potentially worsening heatwaves and the severity of natural disasters.
The heightened intensity has raised concerns over global temperatures in the coming years, with 2027 considered to have a strong possibility of becoming the hottest year on record. There is also a possibility that 2026 could break the existing temperature record.
El Nino is a climate pattern originating in the Pacific Ocean that causes sea surface temperatures to rise across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, influencing weather patterns in different parts of the world.
Its opposite phase, La Nina, is generally associated with cooler global temperatures, while periods between the two phenomena are classified as neutral conditions when more typical weather patterns prevail.
The potential development of a record-strength El Nino is being closely watched as countries prepare for possible disruptions to weather patterns, heat conditions and natural disasters.
