In an Already Broiling Summer, El Niño Is About to Turn Up the Heat
El Niño is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead, fueling more severe heat across the globe, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Organization. The forecast comes as blistering heat shatters temperature records from Europe to Asia. Read more on E360 →
As the summer intensifies, El Niño is poised to escalate heatwaves worldwide, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Organization. The forecast follows a series of record-breaking temperatures across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. During El Niño events, warm waters accumulate in the eastern Pacific, intensifying global heating. The phenomenon caused record heat in 2023 and 2024, the hottest years ever documented.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned, "El Niño is not just on our doorstep — it is inside the house and turning up the heat." He added that the crisis is only in its early stages. The organization highlighted that El Niño is amplifying an already scorching Earth, leading to apocalyptic wildfires, heat domes, and record-high ocean temperatures.
South Korea recently recorded its highest temperature on file at 108.5 degrees Fahrenheit (42.5 degrees Celsius). The Korean weather agency urged citizens to cease outdoor activities and warned that even indoor spaces lacking air conditioning pose threats. This extreme heat followed a record-hot June in Western Europe, where France experienced its highest temperature ever, Denmark, Germany, and Poland recorded all-time highs.
The relentless heat fueled devastating wildfires in France, Spain, and Greece, forcing over 200,000 people to evacuate their homes. French President Emmanuel Macron called it the worst fire-related crisis since World War II. In the United States, scorching heat blanketed much of the country, with Salt Lake City hitting its highest temperature on record at 109 degrees Fahrenheit (42.8 degrees Celsius).
Climate scientist Brian Brettschneider of the University of Alaska Fairbanks noted that July 2026 may be the warmest month ever recorded in the contiguous U.S.
Written by urgent.news from Yale Environment 360's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
