Singapore, Oct. 9 (SANA) The El Niño climate phenomenon could intensify to levels not seen since records began in 1950, peaking in December and potentially lasting until February 2027, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.
Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific could rise 3.7 degrees Celsius above normal between October and December, surpassing the previous record of 2.6 degrees set between November 2015 and January 2016, the WMO said in a report published on its official website Friday.
A stronger El Niño could push temperatures above average across much of the world and disrupt rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of droughts and floods in several regions, the organization warned.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said El Niño does not create additional heat but releases heat stored beneath the ocean’s surface. Strong El Niño events therefore often coincide with some of the hottest years on record, as in 2024.
Saulo added that the ocean supplying the phenomenon’s heat is already the warmest on record, leaving more heat available to be released.
The outlook comes amid continued global warming. August recorded a new high in average land surface temperatures, while global temperatures for June through August matched the record set in 2024, according to the report.
Global sea surface temperatures also reached a record high in August, as El Niño conditions intensified in the Pacific.
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