El Niño to Intensify, Peak in December: UN
The UN says El Niño is expected to intensify and peak in December, with Pacific Ocean temperatures forecast to reach historic levels in late 2026.
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Geneva: The UN meteorological office warns that the existing El Niño phenomenon is projected to intensify more in the coming months before peaking in December, potentially becoming one of the greatest El Niño episodes since measurements began.
According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific are expected to reach historic levels between October and December 2026. The Niño 3.4 temperature anomaly is expected to average around +3.7°C, exceeding the previous record of +2.6°C observed during the 2015-16 period.
El Niño is projected to impact global weather patterns, causing higher-than-average temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. Drought and wildfire threats may increase in certain areas, while severe rainfall and flooding may occur elsewhere.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts the occurrence will continue until early 2027. El Niño, along with warm global oceans and a favourable Indian Ocean Dipole, has the potential to significantly alter weather in the Indian Ocean region.
The organization emphasized that El Niño's impacts vary by location. Its impact varies by place and season, but rising temperatures and shifting rainfall increase the likelihood of extreme weather, stress on agriculture and water resources, and health concerns from heat and flooding. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is monitoring the Pacific and warns of potential impacts on communities, ecosystems, and economy globally.
