Pacific sea surface temperatures expected to rise further, developing into ‘super strong’ El Nino that could also lead to more intense tropical typhoons
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenFiona SunPublished: 6:37pm, 30 Jun 2026This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has warned of record high temperatures this year and next, with a developing El Nino potentially becoming the strongest on record.
The Observatory said on Monday that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean were expected to rise further, developing into an El Nino event this summer that would last until at least early next year and reach “strong” to “super strong” intensity levels.
According to the forecaster, a strong El Nino generally increases the likelihood of abnormally high temperatures in different parts of the world.
“It is expected that under the combined influence of global warming, the average temperature in Hong Kong will be significantly higher this year and next, and record-breaking high temperatures may occur,” it said.
El Nino is a climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, bringing worldwide changes in winds and rainfall patterns and erratic weather.
