Australian climate scientist Andrea Tacchito, an associate professor at the Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, reported that the El Niño phenomenon peaked in December.
She says: "Historically, El Niño usually peaks at the end of the year, in December, and fades in late winter and spring in the Northern Hemisphere (February to May). The current El Niño shows classic signs of evolution, indicating that it will develop, peak, and then weaken as expected."
According to her, there are currently indications that the El Niño phenomenon will continue until the end of 2026. For example, specifically, the sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean has exceeded expectations and is expected to continue to rise as the El Niño phenomenon develops.
It is worth noting that El Niño is a natural phenomenon in which the water temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean rises to abnormal levels. This warming alters the interaction between the ocean and the atmosphere, and can lead to a series of climate changes worldwide—in some areas, the likelihood of drought increases, while in others, heavy rainfall and wetter weather conditions are expected.
