China reports super El Niño formed

China’s National Climate Center says a super El Niño formed in September 2026, with Pacific sea-surface temperatures crossing the threshold and expected to peak in late autumn or early winter; forecasters say it could become the strongest since systematic monitoring began. The event is already being linked to wetter-than-normal conditions and flood risks in parts of the Horn of Africa, where heavy Deyr-season rains have begun, and Oman’s forecasts indicate above-average rainfall in some northern areas during the coming months. Oman’s weather center also warns that El Niño may bring wider swings in rainfall and temperature, raising the possibility of extremes including heavy rain and drought. Past super El Niño events have coincided with severe floods and other extreme weather in China, though impacts vary by region and are not uniform.