The El Niño weather phenomenon is projected to strengthen even more through 2027 and could become the most potent on record, heightening the potential for extreme weather events into the following year, as per the World Meteorological Organization’s announcement on Thursday.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated during a press conference in Geneva that if the current trend persists, this El Niño could surpass any observed since monitoring began, exceeding the benchmarks used over the past four decades.
The UN weather agency emphasized that its forecasts indicate a nearly 100% likelihood of El Niño persisting until February 2027, driven by unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. This level of certainty is unprecedented, according to the WMO.
A robust El Niño can cause significant shifts in global rainfall and temperature patterns, leading to extreme weather occurrences like typhoons.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “El Niño is undergoing exceptional growth right before our eyes. The scientific evidence is unequivocal: the planet is navigating uncharted territory, and these uncharted waters are warming up.”
El Niño is characterized by periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific due to weakened trade winds. It occurs naturally every two to seven years and typically lasts up to 12 months, triggering intense rainfall and droughts across Latin America.
The current El Niño event has already impacted soft commodity production in tropical regions, contributing to a severe food crisis in Central America’s Dry Corridor.
The WMO noted that El Niño is expected to peak later this year but will continue to influence conditions into 2027, resulting in elevated global temperatures next year, according to Saulo.
Saulo highlighted that the WMO is enhancing preparedness and early warning initiatives in anticipation of these developments.
“We are dedicated to collaborating closely with partners throughout the United Nations and humanitarian sectors to deliver the necessary climate insights and intelligence to support disaster management and climate-sensitive industries such as agriculture, health, energy, and water resources,” she affirmed.
[WATCH | What a ‘super’ El Niño means for you: Video link and description provided.]
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