2026 Super El Niño: Preparing for the impacts ahead As correctly predicted a few months ago, a Super El Niño has now evolved over the tropical Pacific and continues to intensify. For the first time in the instrumental record, the Niño 3.4 region has reportedly exceeded 30°C, reaching a preliminary SST of 30.06°C on 5 October 2026. The event is already having major impacts in different parts of the world, including a deficient Indian monsoon, drought and forest fires over Indonesia, exceptional warmth and dryness over Australia, and severe heat-wave events in Europe, among other impacts. For India, the deficient monsoon is likely to have implications for agricultural production and water availability, particularly in regions already experiencing water stress. While the large-scale disruptions and suffering associated with this event are a matter of concern, the successful early prediction of a Super El Niño—and its potential impacts, including on the Indian monsoon—deserves recognition. Timely forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have enabled the Government of India and various state agencies to take precautionary measures and prepare for the potential consequences. For India, however, the story does not end with the monsoon. We should expect continued influences of this strong El Niño during the coming months. The ensuing winter could be warmer than normal, followed by a potentially hot and challenging pre-monsoon season, with an increased risk of severe heat-wave events. Having managed the impacts of a deficient monsoon, we should now begin preparing for the possibility of above-normal temperatures, heat stress, increased water demand and associated health and agricultural impacts during the winter and pre-monsoon seasons. Early warning is most valuable when it leads to early action. We should use the information available now to prepare for the months ahead. @Indiametdept @moesgoi @PMOIndia @atriauniversity