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A powerful new El Niño has officially begun, raising concerns that it could combine with human-caused climate change to drive global temperatures to new record highs. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed the development of El Niño following a significant buildup of unusually warm water across the tropical Pacific. This natural climate pattern is already releasing large amounts of stored ocean heat into the atmosphere, which is expected to influence weather patterns worldwide. Scientists estimate a 63% chance that this El Niño will strengthen into a “very strong” or Super El Niño, potentially one of the most intense events since records began in 1950. Because it is occurring against the backdrop of an already warming planet, experts warn it could push global temperatures to unprecedented levels and make 2025 one of the hottest years on record. The consequences are far-reaching. In the United States, the pattern typically brings wetter winters to the southern states, raises the risk of damaging atmospheric river storms in California, and reduces Atlantic hurricane activity. South America often faces severe flooding, while Australia and Southeast Asia brace for extreme heat and heightened wildfire danger. Rising sea surface temperatures are also threatening marine ecosystems with widespread coral bleaching and marine heatwaves. As this natural climate cycle overlays long-term human-driven warming, the coming months will provide a critical look at how our planet responds to such combined pressures.