{
  "id": 5425743,
  "title": "‘Very’ strong El Nino emerging, to last till Feb 2027: WMO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/very-strong-el-nino-emerging-to-last-till-feb-2027-wmo",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:07:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/very-strong-el-nino-emerging-to-last-till-feb-2027-wmo-10862433/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning of an impending “very strong” El Nino event, which could persist until February next year, potentially disrupting global temperature and rainfall patterns. Speaking at a press briefing, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the significant impact this El Nino could have on communities and economies worldwide, already causing disruptions and devastation from droughts and floods. The El Nino phenomenon is a natural ocean-atmosphere event resulting from significant warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can trigger extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and extreme temperatures.\n\nThe severity of this El Nino is determined by the sea surface temperature average over three months in the Nino 3.4 region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Recent measurements have shown this temperature index surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal during May-July, and escalating to 2 degrees Celsius above normal in July, confirming its rapid intensification. Europe experienced one of its hottest summers in recent decades this year, and August reported record temperatures in many parts of the globe, as confirmed by various international weather agencies.\n\nThe WMO chief highlighted that this El Nino episode is pushing the resources of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to their limits and will necessitate extensive preparations and coordination to manage the extreme weather. She stated, “Never before in the 50-year history of the WMO have we launched such a major mobilization with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services who are on the frontline of delivering the forecasts and services to save lives and livelihoods.”\n\nIn India, the monsoon rainfall in the latter half of August was affected by the developing El Nino, but the monsoon season has largely escaped the influence of this developing El Nino. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also noted that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the Indian Ocean counterpart of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is likely to develop between September and November. A positive phase of the IOD, with a seasonal mean value of 0.9 degrees Celsius, is anticipated. Though the IOD briefly shifted to a positive phase in late August, it reverted to neutral by then. Although the Meteorological Department in India has not yet released the post-monsoon seasonal forecast, experts suggest that the intensifying El Nino could help keep cold at bay during the upcoming winter season.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "‘Very’ strong El Nino emerging, to last till Feb 2027: WMO",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/very-strong-el-nino-emerging-to-last-till-feb-2027-wmo-5427469",
        "published": "2026-09-03T22:07:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}