GENEVA, 03 September, 2026 (Ghufran): The United Nations’ weather agency has warned that El Nino could intensify into one of the strongest events ever recorded, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioning that the world is entering a “danger zone of extreme weather.” The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said El Nino is expected to become “very strong” in the coming months and is almost certain to continue through February. The natural climate phenomenon warms surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, affecting global wind, pressure and rainfall patterns. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the phenomenon could become stronger than anything observed since monitoring began four decades ago if the current trend continues.According to the WMO, El Nino is expected to peak toward the end of this year, while its impacts on global climate could continue into 2027. Ocean heat is released gradually into the atmosphere, potentially contributing to higher global temperatures in the following year.

The WMO noted that the powerful 2023-24 El Nino contributed to 2024 becoming the warmest year on record and warned that another temperature record could be broken. The agency said the intensifying El Nino could bring major changes in rainfall and temperature patterns, increasing the risks of floods, droughts and extreme heat. El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon and is not caused by climate change. However, scientists expect it to intensify extreme heat and weather conditions on a planet already warming due to fossil fuel emissions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said El Nino was becoming increasingly severe, warning that rising sea surface temperatures and global temperatures were putting the world in an unprecedented zone of extreme weather risks. He called for stronger climate action and urged governments to accelerate efforts to protect people from the growing impacts of extreme weather.