The EU's Copernicus climate monitor says El Niño set a temperature record in a key Pacific zone in September. Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region averaged 29.70°C, topping the peaks of the strong 1982/83, 1997/98 and 2015/16 events.
Copernicus added a caveat: under a new index that accounts for overall tropical ocean warming, the event is not yet stronger than past ones. It said September's values point to an already exceptionally strong El Niño that has not yet peaked. Japan's weather agency said conditions had reached their strongest intensity on record, with temperatures 4°C above normal.
Globally, September sea surface temperature hit 21.05°C, beating the previous September high of 20.92°C set in 2023. Surface air temperature averaged 16.27°C, the second hottest September on record.