WMO warns strong El Niño to intensify global heat and extreme weather
DÍLI, 04 August 2026 (TATOLI) — The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that a strong El Niño is expected to intensify from next month, increasing the likelihood of above-normal temperatures and major shifts in rainfall patterns across many parts of the world.
According to the U.N. weather agency, multi-model forecasts indicate that seasonal-average sea surface temperature anomalies could exceed 2.9 degrees Celsius in key monitoring regions, signalling the development of a strong El Niño event.
The phenomenon is unfolding as global temperatures and ocean heat remain at record levels, raising concerns about its potential impacts on agriculture, public health and vulnerable communities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the strengthening climate pattern would exacerbate an already worsening climate crisis.
“El Niño is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires and record hot seas,” Guterres said in a statement.
He said El Niño had already begun affecting the global climate.
“El Niño is not just on our doorstep; it is inside the house and turning up the heat, and this is only a warm-up act,” said UN Chief.
Guterres blamed continued fossil fuel use for accelerating climate change.
“More coal, oil and gas will lead to a more combustible future,” he warned, adding: “Unless we act to protect people and tackle the root cause of the crisis, the dangers will become deadlier still. The warm-up act is over. We cannot afford to wait for the main event.”
The WMO said it is stepping up coordination, climate information services and early warning to help those affected prepare for potential impacts, including governments, humanitarian agencies, such climate-sensitive sectors as agriculture and health as well as vulnerable communities.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed that while seasonal climate forecasts are an essential planning tool, they cannot prevent disasters on their own.
“El Niño is one of the most closely monitored climate phenomena in the world, but forecasts in themselves do not prevent hazards, people do,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a statement.
Saulo noted that the current El Niño is developing against a backdrop of unprecedented ocean warming and rising global temperatures but said there remains an opportunity to reduce its impacts through timely action.
“The decisions we make today will shape the impacts we experience tomorrow,” she said, adding that the WMO and its member states remain committed to ensuring that reliable and timely climate information reaches those most at risk.
TATOLI
