UN Secretary-General António Guterres has sounded the alarm over a developing El Niño event, saying the world is now in a “danger zone of extreme weather.”
Fresh figures from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) point to this being the most powerful occurrence of the pattern in more than seven decades, with effects potentially stretching into early 2027.
The phenomenon reshapes global weather systems, triggering drought in some areas while fuelling more intense storms and flooding in others. Scientists warn El Niño will also drive up temperatures in numerous regions, adding to warming already caused by human activity.
“El Niño is being supersized before our eyes,” Guterres warned, adding that the science was unambiguous: the planet has moved into unfamiliar territory, and conditions continue to worsen.
Officials worldwide are ramping up readiness measures, from bolstering early warning networks to positioning emergency medical support ahead of anticipated impacts.
Even so, the sheer scale of this event has stoked concern for at-risk populations. WMO chief Celeste Saulo cautioned that the phenomenon “has the potential to deliver a massive blow to communities and economies across the world,” as her agency pushes to get forecasts out to as many communities as it can reach.
Meanwhile, Pacific sea temperatures have climbed sharply, a telltale sign of the pattern gaining strength.
