{
  "id": 5427469,
  "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",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-03T22:07:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "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 2027. According to WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, this significant ocean-atmosphere phenomenon could have far-reaching consequences on global temperature and rainfall patterns, resulting in potential devastation from droughts and floods. She emphasized that the effects of this El Nino episode are straining resources, necessitating extensive preparations and coordination to mitigate the extreme weather.\n\nEl Nino is characterized by the equatorial Pacific Ocean warming significantly, disrupting weather patterns across the world. Noted for triggering extreme weather conditions such as heatwaves, wet spells, and extreme temperatures, the intensity of El Nino is measured by the sea surface temperature average over three months in the Nino 3.4 region in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Recent data shows this temperature index value exceeding the normal threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above during May-July and soaring above the 2 degrees Celsius mark in July, confirming the rapid intensification of the event.\n\nIn Europe, this year has witnessed one of the hottest summers in recent decades, with August reporting record temperatures in many parts of the globe. The WMO chief highlighted that this El Nino episode is pushing resources to their limits and will require comprehensive preparations and coordination to cope with the extreme weather conditions. She stated that never before in the WMO's 50-year history have they launched such a major mobilization, with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services on the forefront of delivering crucial forecasts and services to save lives and livelihoods.\n\nThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently confirmed that the monsoon rainfall in the latter half of August was influenced by the developing El Nino, but overall, the monsoon has largely remained unaffected by the intensifying event. The WMO also noted that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the Indian Ocean counterpart of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), could develop between September and November. With a positive phase of the IOD value of 0.9 degrees Celsius expected, it could potentially counterbalance the El Nino effect. However, the IOD briefly shifted towards the positive phase in late August but returned to neutral levels, as reported by the IMD. Although the Indian Meteorological Department 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",
        "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",
        "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."
}