UN scientists and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that a massive El Niño phase, nicknamed “Godzilla,” is likely to develop [1].

This weather pattern matters because it could become one of the strongest El Niños ever recorded, amplifying the effects of a warming climate and increasing the risk of extreme weather globally [1, 2].

The WMO said the event is very likely to officially begin within the next few months [1]. Meteorologists said that the pattern develops in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, where sea-surface temperatures could exceed the average by more than three °C [3, 4].

Such a significant temperature spike would make this the strongest El Niño in modern history [3]. Experts said that the event may reach "Super El Niño" status as early as October 2024 [5].

The combination of natural variability and a warming climate makes the planet especially vulnerable to these shifts [2]. This vulnerability could lead to record-breaking heat across the globe. While sources differ on the exact timing of the peak heat, some reports suggest 2026 could be the hottest year on record [6], while others indicate it may happen sooner.

“The ‘Godzilla’ El Niño could make next year the hottest on record,” a climate scientist said [7].

National weather agencies continue to support the UN and WMO in monitoring the Pacific region to prepare for the resulting atmospheric disruptions [1].

““The ‘Godzilla’ El Niño could make next year the hottest on record.””

The emergence of a 'Godzilla' El Niño suggests a compounding effect where natural climate cycles overlap with human-induced global warming. If sea-surface temperatures exceed the 3 °C threshold, the resulting atmospheric shifts will likely trigger severe droughts in some regions and catastrophic flooding in others, challenging global food security and disaster response infrastructure.