The 2026 El Niño Is Being ‘Supersized’ as Impacts Worsen
The World Meteorological Organization has issued an unprecedented warning regarding a 'supersized' El Niño event expected to last through February 2027. This phenomenon is projected to drive global temperatures to record highs, exacerbating extreme weather conditions.
Why it matters
The intensity of this climate event poses significant risks to global food security, infrastructure, and public health.
The world’s leading weather organization is sounding the alarm about this year’s super El Niño, issuing its most certain forecast in the history of the organization.
In an update issued early Thursday, the World Meteorological Organization predicted a “nearly 100% likelihood” that the El Niño will last through February. The strong language from the World Meteorological Organization—the United Nations’ weather and climate agency—underlies just how historic this El Niño is shaping up to be.
“This is the first time that a WMO El Niño/La Niña Update has been so unequivocal,” the agency says, noting that certainty reflects “the strong agreement within WMO’s extensive network.”
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in