El Niño 1965-1966
El Niño 1965-1966 lasted about 12 months, from May–Jul 1965 to Feb–Apr 1966. The Oceanic Niño Index peaked at +1.8 °C in OND 1965, a strong El Niño, ranked #7 of 23 since 1950.
StartMJJ 1965May–Jul
EndFMA 1966Feb–Apr
Duration12 months10 seasons
Peak ONI+1.8 °COND 1965
Average ONI+1.28 °Cduring the episode
StrengthStrong#7 / 23
ONI before, during and after El Niño 1965-1966
Season by season
| Season | Year | ONI | Niño 3.4 temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MJJ May–Jul | 1965 | +0.8 °C | 27.98 °C |
| JJA Jun–Aug | 1965 | +1.1 °C | 27.95 °C |
| JAS Jul–Sep | 1965 | +1.3 °C | 27.79 °C |
| ASO Aug–Oct | 1965 | +1.6 °C | 27.87 °C |
| SON Sep–Nov | 1965 | +1.7 °C | 27.93 °C |
| OND Oct–Dec | 1965 | +1.8 °C | 28.02 °C |
| NDJ Nov–Jan | 1965 | +1.6 °C | 27.83 °C |
| DJF Dec–Feb | 1966 | +1.2 °C | 27.61 °C |
| JFM Jan–Mar | 1966 | +0.9 °C | 27.60 °C |
| FMA Feb–Apr | 1966 | +0.8 °C | 27.79 °C |
Compare with other episodes
← El Niño 1963-1964El Niño 1968-1969 →La Niña 1964-1965El Niño 2026 (current)
Frequently asked questions
When did El Niño 1965-1966 start and end?
It started in MJJ 1965 and ended in FMA 1966, about 12 months.
How strong was El Niño 1965-1966?
Its peak ONI was +1.8 °C (OND 1965), classified as strong. It ranks #7 among 23 El Niño episodes since 1950.
How does it compare with the current El Niño?
The current event (El Niño 2026) has reached +2.5 °C so far, above the +1.8 °C peak of El Niño 1965-1966.
Episodes are computed from NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index (ERSSTv5) with the standard rule: five or more consecutive overlapping seasons at or beyond ±0.5 °C. Free to cite with a link to elninoforecast.com.