Global meteorological body warns El Niño may fuel climate disasters through 2027

The World Meteorological Organization has warned of a new wave of extreme weather events, forecasting that the El Niño phenomenon will intensify to record levels by the end of 2026 and continue to have an impact through 2027.

In a report released to mark the opening of the COP 31 conference in Turkey, the organization stated that the average global temperature during the first nine months of 2026 exceeded pre-industrial levels by about 1.47 degrees Celsius.

The report noted that the past four years have been the hottest since records began, with the world experiencing unprecedented rises in ocean temperatures and sea levels.

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the organization, said El Niño will increase the risks of heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods, adding that ocean temperatures have reached their highest recorded levels, while glaciers and ice sheets continue to melt at an accelerated rate.

The report stated that climate disasters caused significant human and economic losses in 2026, and that the World Health Organization has, for the first time, classified the expected health impacts of El Niño as a health emergency.

The World Meteorological Organization stressed the need to strengthen early warning systems and disaster preparedness, warning that continued ocean warming and greenhouse gas accumulation will exacerbate climate risks in the coming years.