{
  "id": 2520017,
  "title": "'Off the Charts' El Nino Is Already the Strongest Since Records Began",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/off-the-charts-el-nino-is-already-the-strongest-since-records-began",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-22T07:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Slashdot",
    "slug": "slashdot",
    "url": "https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/08/21/2216202/off-the-charts-el-nino-is-already-the-strongest-since-records-began"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The El Nino weather phenomenon is currently reaching record-setting levels for this time of year, with scientists predicting it could intensify further in the coming months. According to renowned climate scientist James Hansen, the current El Nino is already off the charts and may surpass previous super El Nino events in various metrics. The heat anomaly in the upper 300 meters of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean has already exceeded the 1997-98 super El Nino, and several experts believe this developing super El Nino will become the strongest modern event on record. While some scientists compare the current El Nino to historical events, such as the 1877-1878 El Nino, which caused widespread impacts and significant loss of life, others believe it could even surpass these events.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Scientist",
        "title": "‘Off the charts’ El Niño is already the strongest since records began",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/off-the-charts-el-nino-is-already-the-strongest-since-records-began",
        "published": "2026-08-21T17:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}