The World Meteorological Organization announced on Thursday that the El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to strengthen further until 2027, potentially becoming the most powerful on record. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that if the current trend continues, it could surpass any previous El Niño event monitored over the past four decades.
Forecasts from the UN weather agency indicate a nearly 100% probability that El Niño will persist through February 2027 due to exceptionally warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. This level of certainty is unprecedented, according to the WMO. A severe El Niño can significantly alter global rainfall and temperature patterns, leading to extreme weather events such as typhoons.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the escalating impact of El Niño, stating that the planet is entering uncharted territory with rising temperatures. El Niño, characterized by periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific caused by weakened trade winds, occurs naturally every two to seven years and typically lasts up to 12 months, affecting rainfall and drought patterns across Latin America.
This year’s El Niño has already influenced agricultural commodities in tropical regions, contributing to a severe food crisis in Central America’s Dry Corridor. The WMO noted that the phenomenon is expected to peak later this year but will continue into 2027, leaving a lasting impact on global temperatures. Saulo affirmed that the WMO is enhancing preparedness and early warning efforts to mitigate the effects of El Niño on various sectors like agriculture, health, energy, and water resources.
