In a stark indication of the current El Niño’s intensity, the average sea surface temperature in the Nino 3.4 region of the Pacific Ocean reached 29.7°C in September, marking an all-time high, according to a report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service released on Monday. This figure surpasses the peak temperatures recorded during previous strong El Niño events in 1982-83, 1997-98, and 2015-16.
Experts across the Asia-Pacific region are advising increased preparedness for the strong El Niño, which is anticipated to heighten instances of extreme weather. The phenomenon is characterized by a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific, which can disrupt global weather patterns. With the backdrop of global warming, the current El Niño may intensify the occurrence of extreme weather events.
On October 9, China’s National Climate Center (NCC) indicated that a “super” El Niño event had emerged, with warming concentrated in the eastern Pacific. This event is expected to be the strongest recorded since systematic monitoring began. NCC Chief Forecaster Zhao Junhu noted that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific are likely to continue rising over the next three months, with peaks expected from late autumn to early winter.
In South Korea, ongoing extreme weather has already had deadly consequences, with heat waves claiming dozens of lives this summer. On October 9, Seoul registered a record daytime temperature of 30.1°C, the highest recorded for October since meteorological records began. The Korea Meteorological Administration warns that significant temperature fluctuations could occur this winter due in part to the intensified El Niño.
Japan has also faced unusual weather, with Tokyo experiencing a record 35 consecutive days of rainfall, the longest stretch since records began in 1886. The situation has led to emergency responses and heightened public awareness regarding the climate crisis.
In Indonesia, wildfires—the worst in decades—have exacerbated the situation, displacing hundreds of families and spreading thick smog to neighboring countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Kim Joo-jin, CEO of Solutions for Our Climate, emphasized the need for heightened awareness and preparedness, indicating that the impacts of the “super” El Niño underline the importance of accelerating climate action and transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Sheeba Chenoli, an associate professor in meteorology and climatology at Universiti Malaya, highlighted the potential shifts in atmospheric circulation and moisture patterns due to the intensified El Niño. She noted that the record sea surface temperatures reported in September act as a critical warning, as existing climate stresses compound the challenges posed by the current weather phenomenon.
Additionally, global temperatures reached 1.63°C above preindustrial levels last month, making it the second warmest September ever recorded, according to data from the European Union’s climate monitoring agency.
As regions brace for the impact of this unprecedented weather pattern, cooperation among Southeast Asian nations for monitoring and managing climate-related events is increasingly deemed essential.
