El Niño
El Niño is an iPhone app that provides a real-time picture of conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean using public NOAA data.
Our verdict
Who it's for
Track Pacific Ocean conditions with NOAA data
Who should look elsewhere
Available only on iPhone; no iPad, Mac, or web version mentioned
Pros
- +Simple summary first, with optional deep dives into maps, charts, and data sources
- +Uses public, trusted NOAA data with clear attribution and update times
- +No account or sign-up required, completely free
Cons
- −Available only on iPhone; no iPad, Mac, or web version mentioned
- −Niche focus on El Niño/La Niña tracking may not appeal to a broad audience
Key features
- ✓Pacific sea-surface temperature anomaly map with Niño 3.4 region overlay
- ✓ENSO Signal Score (0–100) combining ocean and atmospheric data
- ✓Weekly and monthly charts showing temperature changes and air/wind patterns
- ✓Past events comparison tool to see which completed El Niño events look most like today
- ✓Shareable daily snapshot with source names and update times
- ✓Home Screen widget and alerts for quick updates
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | — | month | Live public NOAA data; Current picture, not a forecast; No account needed |
| El Niño for iPhone | — | month | All Free features; Home Screen widget; Alerts |
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