El Niño strengthens off Ecuador; sea temp anomalies up to 4.5°C, may reach very strong by end-2026

ERFEN reports El Niño actively strengthening off Ecuador's coast, with sea surface temperature anomalies up to 4.5°C, and projects possible very strong intensity by end-2026. This signals elevated risk of severe weather impacts (floods, droughts) across the eastern Pacific and potentially global climate disruptions, though intensity forecasts carry uncertainty.