The World Meteorological Organization warns that El Niño is intensifying, potentially worsening heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall worldwide, while the UN Secretary-General calls for stopping new coal, oil, and gas projects.
On 31 July 2026, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that the El Niño phenomenon is rapidly intensifying and is expected to impact global weather patterns in the coming months, increasing the risk of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rains, and extreme weather in many regions.
It stated that El Niño has already formed in the tropical Pacific Ocean and is expected to develop into a strong El Niño between July and September 2026, with multiple forecast models agreeing that sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific will rise significantly.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said El Niño is exacerbating human-caused global warming and may intensify and broaden the impacts of extreme weather. He said El Niño is fueling an already overheated planet and called on all countries to urgently implement climate measures by ending reliance on fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, enhancing protection for vulnerable populations, and expanding early warning systems to cover all areas.
The UN chief also called to halt new coal, oil, and natural gas projects, viewing the expansion of fossil fuel use as a key driver worsening the climate crisis.
According to WMO data, El Niño is likely to raise average global temperatures and alter rainfall patterns in many regions. From June to August 2026, most of the world is expected to experience above-average temperatures, though impacts will vary by country due to other climate factors. Many areas in Africa, Southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South America may face higher-than-normal temperatures, while some regions risk heavy rains and floods, and others may suffer severe drought.
Source: BBC