UN warns El Niño set to peak in December as climate change fuels extreme floods and droughts

Geneva, Oct 8 — The United Nations has warned that El Niño will intensify and reach its peak in December, potentially being among the strongest events observed since at least 1950. The naturally occurring weather phenomenon will bring elevated temperatures across the globe, amplifying the effects of human-induced climate change.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño will continue to strengthen before reaching its forecasted peak in December, bringing above-average temperatures and altering rainfall patterns, which could heighten the risks of droughts and floods in various regions.

El Niño occurs when sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean rise above average, causing shifts in winds, pressure, and rainfall patterns worldwide. This phenomenon typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts for nine to twelve months, oscillating between El Niño and La Niña phases, with neutral conditions in between.

WMO chief Celeste Saulo stated that El Niño is "firmly established and strengthening rapidly," with a near-100 percent likelihood of persisting through February 2027 and possibly becoming one of the strongest since 1950. The WMO forecasts that sea-surface temperatures in the affected region could reach approximately 3.7C above normal during October-November-December, which would be the highest level since records began, surpassing the previous record of 2.6C set in 2015-2016.