Current circumstances are expected to grow into one of the greatest El Niño episodes on record, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder.
El Niño episodes; according to NCAR, are "characterized by warmer-than-average temperatures in the Tropical Pacific Ocean."
The event may drastically alter global weather patterns, with a peak often occurring around December.
On the other hand, La Niña is a period of low ocean temperatures. The previous El Niño hit in 2015–2016.
El Niños are quantified by NCAR using a statistic known as the Niño 3.4 Index. It gauges how much the sea surface temperature.
El Niño conditions, according to the center, happen when the average Niño 3.4 Index is higher than +0.5 degrees Celsius.
"The running three-month average index must be +0.5 degrees Celsius or greater for five consecutive months in order for there to be an official El Niño event.
"During the months of December, January, and February, the index is expected to increase to an average of +2.4 degrees according to NCAR's new forecasting system."