El Niño 2023-2024
El Niño 2023-2024 lasted about 13 months, from May–Jul 2023 to Mar–May 2024. The Oceanic Niño Index peaked at +2.0 °C in NDJ 2023, a strong El Niño, ranked #5 of 23 since 1950.
What happened
Developed quickly in 2023 and contributed to 2023 and 2024 being the warmest years on record globally. It brought drought to the Amazon and Central America and heavy rain to the coast of Peru and Ecuador.
Impacts vary by region and event; see our country pages for the usual pattern.
ONI before, during and after El Niño 2023-2024
Season by season
| Season | Year | ONI | Niño 3.4 temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MJJ May–Jul | 2023 | +0.7 °C | 28.36 °C |
| JJA Jun–Aug | 2023 | +1.0 °C | 28.29 °C |
| JAS Jul–Sep | 2023 | +1.3 °C | 28.21 °C |
| ASO Aug–Oct | 2023 | +1.5 °C | 28.26 °C |
| SON Sep–Nov | 2023 | +1.7 °C | 28.45 °C |
| OND Oct–Dec | 2023 | +1.9 °C | 28.55 °C |
| NDJ Nov–Jan | 2023 | +2.0 °C | 28.55 °C |
| DJF Dec–Feb | 2024 | +1.8 °C | 28.38 °C |
| JFM Jan–Mar | 2024 | +1.5 °C | 28.30 °C |
| FMA Feb–Apr | 2024 | +1.2 °C | 28.40 °C |
| MAM Mar–May | 2024 | +0.8 °C | 28.40 °C |
Compare with other episodes
← El Niño 2019-2020El Niño 2026 →La Niña 2021-2023El Niño 2026 (current)
Frequently asked questions
When did El Niño 2023-2024 start and end?
It started in MJJ 2023 and ended in MAM 2024, about 13 months.
How strong was El Niño 2023-2024?
Its peak ONI was +2.0 °C (NDJ 2023), classified as strong. It ranks #5 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 +2.0 °C peak of El Niño 2023-2024.
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.