The El Niño weather pattern is expected to strengthen through 2027 and could potentially become the most powerful on record, heightening the likelihood of extreme weather events in the coming year, as per the World Meteorological Organization’s announcement on Thursday.
Secretary-General Celeste Saulo of the WMO stated at a press conference in Geneva that if the current trend continues, this El Niño could surpass any previously monitored occurrences, surpassing the scales used for the last four decades.
The UN weather agency indicated that their projections suggest a nearly 100% chance of El Niño persisting until February 2027, driven by remarkably warm temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. This is the first time the WMO has expressed such a high level of certainty regarding this matter.
A robust El Niño has the potential to significantly alter global precipitation and temperature patterns, leading to extreme weather phenomena such as typhoons.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the unprecedented growth of El Niño, stating that the scientific evidence is clear: the planet is entering uncharted territory with rising temperatures.
El Niño, characterized by periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific due to weakening trade winds, occurs naturally every two to seven years and typically lasts up to a year, causing severe rainfalls and droughts across Latin America.
The current El Niño event has already impacted tropical regions’ soft commodities, triggering a severe food crisis in Central America’s Dry Corridor.
The WMO mentioned that the El Niño is expected to peak by the end of this year but will continue influencing conditions into 2027, leaving behind elevated global temperatures in the following year, according to Saulo.
Saulo highlighted the WMO’s increased focus on preparedness and early warning efforts to address the situation, stating their commitment to collaborating with partners in the UN and humanitarian sectors to provide vital climate information for disaster management and climate-sensitive industries like agriculture, health, energy, and water resources.
