Ecowatch: What to expect when you're expecting a super El Nino

Cracks appearing in a padi field in a drought-hit area in Bekasi regency, Indonesia, amid forecasts that this year's super El Nino may contribute to drier-than-normal conditions. — Reuters

A SUPER El Nino is an exceptionally strong version of the natural climate pattern known as El Nino. It occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become much warmer than normal, disrupting weather patterns around the world.

When it's designated "super", the key difference is about strength and impact. While a regular El Niño can bring hotter, drier weather to countries in this part of the world, a super El Nino is  more intense and is more likely to trigger widespread heatwaves, droughts, water shortages, crop losses, wildfires and worsening transboundary haze.