{
  "id": 51818,
  "title": "El Nino forecast: UN says record ocean warming could bring dangerous heat, droughts and floods worldwide",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/el-nino-forecast-un-says-record-ocean-warming-could-bring-dangerous",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-02T16:59:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/world/el-nino-forecast-un-says-record-ocean-warming-could-bring-dangerous-heat-droughts-and-floods-worldwide-11785689298470.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A rapidly intensifying El Niño, breaking records for its early strength, has raised global alarm, according to the United Nations. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, warned that the climate event could exacerbate extreme weather conditions worldwide, including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and heavy rainfall. El Niño, caused by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, alters global weather patterns but is not directly caused by climate change. However, when combined with long-term global warming, it can intensify extreme weather events. Scientists report that the Pacific Ocean's strength for measuring El Niño reached its warmest level ever recorded during the 15th week of its development, marking an unprecedented milestone early in its formation. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expects the El Niño event to persist through spring 2027. The UN attributes the current record-breaking ocean temperatures to greenhouse gas emissions and warns that the strengthening El Niño is adding fuel to a planet already on fire. Scientists predict that the most significant impacts of El Niño will occur during autumn and winter, with increased likelihoods of drought in parts of India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, eastern and southern Australia, and South America. Conversely, regions such as several areas in South America may experience above-normal rainfall, leading to heightened risks of flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage. Despite El Niño's temporary nature, the released heat from the oceans contributes to long-term global warming, and scientists warn that the Northern Hemisphere may face a summer like never before. The UN urges governments to prepare for El Niño's impacts by protecting vulnerable communities from extreme heat and enhancing resilience against droughts and floods. Antonio Guterres emphasizes the need to treat climate change as an existential threat and accelerate efforts to reduce emissions, stressing that continued reliance on fossil fuels will only worsen future climate extremes.",
  "summary": "UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world is entering “uncharted territory,” cautioning that the developing El Niño will amplify the effects of climate change by bringing more heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and heavy rainfall.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}