- El Nino has formed and is breaking records for intensity, with the key Pacific region reaching its warmest level ever recorded for the 15th week since it formed.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the strengthening El Nino is 'adding fuel to a planet already on fire.'
- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) projects above-normal temperatures across nearly all land areas, with intense heat signals across Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South America.
- Scientists indicate that the El Nino won't peak for several months and is expected to last through spring 2027.
- The El Nino-induced dry season has sparked wildfires across the globe this year.
- Guterres emphasized the need for nations to fast-track climate action as the impact of El Nino converges with human-induced climate change.
- The WMO cautioned that the El Nino will likely trigger extreme heat, drought, and rainfall well into next year.
A strengthening El Nino is breaking records for intensity, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warning it will unleash extreme weather globally.13
“El Nino is not just on our doorstep, it is inside the house and turning up the heat,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.2
“This is only a warm-up act. El Nino is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire.”
The WMO projects temperatures to soar over 2.9 degrees Celsius (5.22 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, heightening risks of heatwaves, drought, and flooding.
Guterres emphasized the need for urgent climate action, particularly against fossil fuel expansion, which he identified as a core driver of the crisis.
“The climate crisis is in overdrive,” he stated, highlighting the unprecedented ocean heat and rising temperatures.
The WMO forecasts above-normal temperatures across nearly all land areas, with intense heat signals in Africa, southern Europe, and South America.
“Forecasts in themselves do not prevent hazards; people do,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, urging governments to act decisively to protect vulnerable communities.
As El Nino peaks later this year, scientists warn of chaotic weather patterns, with drought and wildfires expected in parts of Asia and Africa, while the U.S. and Southern Europe may experience above-average rainfall.
“We are in uncharted territory,” Guterres warned, calling for immediate action to mitigate the impending impacts of this climate phenomenon.
“WMO projections show above-normal temperatures across nearly all land areas, with the most intense heat signals spanning Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South America. Columbia University scientists reported the key Pacific area reached its warmest level ever recorded in its 15th week, and El Nino should last through spring 2027.”
CP24
