{
  "id": 5295951,
  "title": "'Supersized' El Nino could be strongest on record, UN says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/supersized-el-nino-could-be-strongest-on-record-un-says",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T09:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/supersized-el-nino-could-be-strongest-on-record-un-says/a-78841246?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts the El Nino weather event will be the strongest on record, lasting until February 2027, according to a recent update. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the situation as \"El Nino is being supersized before our eyes.\" The WMO's Celeste Saulo stated this El Nino may be stronger than anything since monitoring began, off the charts. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon, not caused by climate change, but it can exacerbate global heating effects. It begins with warming surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, altering global wind, pressure, and rainfall patterns. This year, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are already well above average and rising, with subsurface temperatures unusually high in some areas. Droughts, floods, and extreme heat are already causing disruption, and Saulo warned these impacts will intensify as El Nino strengthens. The phenomenon could cause major damage to communities, economies, and supply chains globally.",
  "summary": "The current El Nino weather phenomenon could be the strongest on record, according to the UN. The World Meteorological Organisation warns that it may be stronger than anything since records began 40 years ago, driven by exceptionally warm temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean.\n\nThe UN weather agency forecasts a near 100 per cent likelihood that El Nino will persist through February 2027. This phenomenon can significantly shift rainfall and temperature patterns worldwide, fueling extreme weather such as typhoons.\n\nEl Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific caused by weakening trade winds, occurring naturally every two to seven years and typically lasting up to 12 months. According to DW English, the current El Nino is being \"supersized\" due to the exceptionally warm Pacific Ocean temperatures.",
  "key_points": [
    "El Nino predicted to be strongest on record, lasting until February 2027",
    "UN Secretary General calls it 'supersized', off the charts",
    "Extreme weather impacts already occurring, intensifying with El Nino"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "'Supersized' El Nino could be strongest on record, UN says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/supersized-el-nino-could-be-strongest-on-record-un-says-5301509",
        "published": "2026-09-03T09:39:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}