'Unprecedented' El Niño on the cards – could exceed previous events

RNZ 17 Jun, 2026 05:28 AM 4 mins to read A Super El Niño is when ocean temperatures reach or exceed 2C above the long-term average. Photo / 123rf A Super El Niño is when ocean temperatures reach or exceed 2C above the long-term average. Photo / 123rf By Kate Newton of RNZ An “unprecedented” El Niño could develop later this year, the country’s climate forecasting service says. Earth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ) is holding off formally declaring an El Niño event but says that is likely to change within the next few weeks.