• The UN forecasts an imminent strong El Nino could drastically affect global temperatures and weather.
• Expected impacts include increased drought, heatwaves, and disrupted rainfall patterns worldwide.
• The phenomenon could worsen existing climate challenges, especially in vulnerable regions.
• There is a predicted 80-90% chance of El Nino developing by November 2026.
• UN Secretary-General Guterres emphasizes urgent climate action to combat these impending issues.

The United Nations weather agency has issued a warning about an upcoming strong El Nino, forecasting a high likelihood of extreme weather events in the near future. There is an 80% chance that this phenomenon will develop between June and August, with a likelihood of lasting until at least November 2026, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Reuters and Channel News Asia.

El Nino is characterized by warming sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically disrupts global climate patterns, potentially leading to extreme weather phenomena such as increased rainfall in southern regions of South America and heavy drought in Australia and parts of Asia. The WMO highlighted the development of unusually warm subsurface conditions that are contributing to the onset of El Nino Reuters, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of addressing the impacts of El Nino, stating that it would exacerbate existing climate challenges, particularly among vulnerable populations. He noted that “the world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is,” urging a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

The WMO's projections indicate that if the El Nino continues to strengthen, it could contribute to record-breaking temperatures worldwide. Last year’s El Nino conditions contributed to 2024 being the hottest year recorded, suggesting that increased weather extremes might become more frequent as climate change amplifies the effects of El Nino Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Experts warn that the combined effects of climate change and El Nino could lead to more intense natural disasters, affecting agriculture, water supply, and human health. The WMO has called for preparedness measures to mitigate the forecasted risks associated with El Nino, underscoring the need for effective early warning systems, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors Reuters and South China Morning Post.