EXPLAINER — What is a 'super El Niño' and how will it affect the weather?

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Sept 24 (Reuters) — The El Niño weather pattern developing in the Pacific Ocean could be one of the strongest on record, with the potential to cause floods, droughts, extreme heat and crop losses across the world. The phenomenon, which the World Meteorological Organization expects to reach peak intensity by early 2027, could result in 451,000 excess deaths by February, ‌the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab said on Wednesday. Here's what you need to know. What Is El Nino? El Niño is the warm phase of the naturally occurring El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, a climate pattern that influences weather around the world. It tends to cause higher global temperatures and disrupt rainfall pattens across large regions — meaning drought in some areas and heavy rains in others. El Niño typically occurs every two to seven years, when weakening trade winds result in warmer waters in the eastern Pacific. What Makes An El Nino Super? Elevated Pacific Ocean temperatures are the telltale sign that El Niño is forming. This month equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures hit 3.05 degrees Celsius (5.49 Fahrenheit) above normal levels — the highest temperature anom