The super El Niños of the past
Three events since 1950 have reached “very strong” — a peak Niño 3.4 anomaly of at least +2.0°C. Each rearranged weather on every continent, and each is a lens on what winter 2026–27 could bring. The 2026–27 event is already underway — see how it stacks up against the closest analog on our 2026 vs. 1997-98 comparison.
1982–83
The 1982–83 El Niño: The Event Nobody Saw Coming
The 1982–83 El Niño peaked at +2.2°C with almost no warning — and its blind spots built the ocean-observing system watching 2026–27 today.
1997–98
The 1997–98 El Niño: The Benchmark Monster
The 'El Niño of the century' peaked at +2.4°C, killed thousands through floods and fires, and turned ENSO into a household phrase.
2015–16
The 2015–16 El Niño: Strongest on Record, Full of Surprises
A record +2.6°C peak, a global coral catastrophe — and a famous Southern California rain no-show that rewrote how forecasters talk about odds.
2026–vs-1997-98
El Niño 2026 vs. 1997-98: How the Two Events Compare, Month by Month
Same calendar stage, warmer readings: how 2026–27's Niño 3.4 numbers stack up against the benchmark 1997-98 super El Niño, month by month.