El Niño 1986-1988

El Niño 1986-1988 lasted about 19 months, from Aug–Oct 1986 to Dec–Feb 1988. The Oceanic Niño Index peaked at +1.5 °C in ASO 1987, a moderate El Niño, ranked #11 of 23 since 1950.

StartASO 1986Aug–Oct

EndDJF 1988Dec–Feb

Duration19 months17 seasons

Peak ONI+1.5 °CASO 1987

Average ONI+1.09 °Cduring the episode

StrengthModerate#11 / 23

ONI before, during and after El Niño 1986-1988

Season by season

Season	Year	ONI	Niño 3.4 temp.
ASO Aug–Oct	1986	+0.6 °C	27.24 °C
SON Sep–Nov	1986	+0.9 °C	27.42 °C
OND Oct–Dec	1986	+1.1 °C	27.57 °C
NDJ Nov–Jan	1986	+1.2 °C	27.69 °C
DJF Dec–Feb	1987	+1.2 °C	27.72 °C
JFM Jan–Mar	1987	+1.1 °C	27.89 °C
FMA Feb–Apr	1987	+1.0 °C	28.16 °C
MAM Mar–May	1987	+0.9 °C	28.42 °C
AMJ Apr–Jun	1987	+0.9 °C	28.53 °C
MJJ May–Jul	1987	+1.1 °C	28.51 °C
JJA Jun–Aug	1987	+1.3 °C	28.35 °C
JAS Jul–Sep	1987	+1.5 °C	28.23 °C
ASO Aug–Oct	1987	+1.5 °C	28.10 °C
SON Sep–Nov	1987	+1.4 °C	27.97 °C
OND Oct–Dec	1987	+1.2 °C	27.72 °C
NDJ Nov–Jan	1987	+1.0 °C	27.49 °C
DJF Dec–Feb	1988	+0.6 °C	27.17 °C

Compare with other episodes

← El Niño 1982-1983 El Niño 1991-1992 →La Niña 1984-1985 La Niña 1988-1989 El Niño 2026 (current)

ENSO statistics Full ONI table All episodes Impacts by country

Frequently asked questions

When did El Niño 1986-1988 start and end?

It started in ASO 1986 and ended in DJF 1988, about 19 months.

How strong was El Niño 1986-1988?

Its peak ONI was +1.5 °C (ASO 1987), classified as moderate. It ranks #11 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 +1.5 °C peak of El Niño 1986-1988.

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.