Meteorologists forecast significant impact of El Niño on Cyprus in 2026

Meteorologists have issued a forecast regarding the emergence of a strong El Niño phenomenon starting in the summer of 2026. The event is expected to intensify during the autumn and continue to influence global weather patterns through the winter of 2026–2027. Filippos Timvios, Director of the Cyprus Meteorological Service, stated that the phenomenon will occur against a backdrop of already elevated global temperatures. While the impact on Cyprus is expected to be indirect, the service warns of potential risks including heatwaves, wildfires, and flood conditions. Authorities and residents are advised to prepare for extreme weather and practice water conservation. Similar historic episodes occurred in 1982–1983, 1997–1998, and 2015–2016. Precise long-term consequences for the Eastern Mediterranean remain difficult to forecast, but experts emphasize the concern regarding the combination of this phenomenon with rising sea temperatures. The report references data from the European Copernicus observatory.