United Nations warns of unprecedented El Niño intensity

United Nations agencies warned on Wednesday that the current El Niño climate phenomenon may reach an unprecedented level of intensity. According to forecasts, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are expected to rise up to 3.8 degrees Celsius above the historical average between November 2026 and January 2027.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that the phenomenon could reach a magnitude outside of tracking scales used over the past four decades. During a press conference, Saulo and UN humanitarian coordinator Tom Fletcher issued a joint appeal for the international community to prepare for significant global disruptions.

The expected impacts include extreme heat, severe droughts, and catastrophic flooding across Latin America, East and Southern Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region. The UN emphasized that proactive measures are necessary to mitigate the potential humanitarian consequences of these extreme weather events.