El Niño Approaches: Record Warm Seas Heighten Global Heat Concerns
April 2026 has become one of the hottest on record both on land and in oceans. Scientists warn that the powerful El Niño phenomenon may further raise global temperatures in the coming months.
Sea surface temperatures in oceans outside polar regions reached the second-highest level on record for April, according to data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Globally, April ranked third among the warmest months ever recorded, with an average temperature 1.43 °C above pre-industrial levels, dangerously close to the 1.5 °C threshold set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
This data fuels growing concerns about a new period of extreme global heat, as unusually warm oceans continue to drive climate anomalies.
Why is Sea Temperature Rising Again?
Sea surface temperature is a key indicator of how much excess heat the planet is absorbing. In April, the average sea surface temperature in much of the world's oceans reached 21 °C, the second-highest for this month. The only warmer April was in 2024 during the last major El Niño event.
Particularly high temperatures were recorded in the tropical Pacific, where powerful marine heatwaves extended from central areas to the western coasts of the USA and Mexico. Scientists described the situation as alarming, indicating that the Earth's oceans are accumulating more heat primarily due to human-induced climate change.
Since 1970, the world's oceans have absorbed over 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions. Warmer oceans intensify storms, damage marine ecosystems, and disrupt weather patterns worldwide.
According to Samantha Burgess, head of climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the April data demonstrates a "clear signal of sustained global warming."
"Sea surface temperatures were at record levels, marine heatwaves were widespread, Arctic sea ice extent remained significantly below normal, and Europe experienced sharp contrasts in temperature and precipitation," she stated.
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"All of these are signs of a climate increasingly influenced by extreme weather."
What is 'Super El Niño'?
Scientists are closely monitoring signs of a potentially destructive 'Super El Niño' forming in the latter half of the year.
El Niño, which translates to 'the boy' in Spanish, is a natural climate system oscillation associated with abnormal warming of the Pacific Ocean surface. It typically leads to increased global temperatures and alters weather patterns worldwide, bringing drought to some regions and flooding to others.
ECMWF forecasts indicate that by autumn, sea temperatures in the central Pacific near the equator could rise up to 3 °C above normal. If this occurs, it would rank among the most powerful El Niño episodes on record.
Researchers generally define 'Super El Niño' as an episode where Pacific Ocean temperatures rise at least 2 °C above average. However, this designation is not officially used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The last major El Niño event in 2024 contributed to a series of global temperature records. Scientists fear that the new phenomenon, amid ongoing climate warming, could lead to even more extreme weather.
In April, severe flooding hit several areas of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and Afghanistan, while drought conditions worsened in southern Africa. Tropical cyclones formed in the Pacific.
Climate Divide in Europe
Last month, Europe effectively experienced two very different Aprils. The southwest of the continent was much warmer than usual, with Spain recording its hottest April on record, while Eastern Europe faced colder-than-normal conditions.
Overall, April ranked only tenth among the warmest months on record, but this figure masks sharp regional disparities and recent trends.
A recent Copernicus report showed that at least 95 percent of Europe experienced above-normal temperatures in 2025. New data adds to the growing body of evidence that the climate crisis is accelerating on the continent.
