The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a critical seasonal climate outlook warning that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon could reach “unprecedented” strength between November 2026 and January 2027.
According to the UN climate agency, ocean surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific are projected to surge up to 3.8°C above average, likely peaking in December 2026. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo described the forecast as literally “off the monitoring charts” established over the past four decades.
The intense El Niño is expected to trigger widespread climate disruptions globally. In South and Southeast Asia, including India, the phenomenon is predicted to bring higher-than-normal temperatures and weaker seasonal rainfall, potentially jeopardizing agricultural output during the critical post-monsoon winter crop cycle. Concurrently, a fresh report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) titled The Point of Return warns that under current national policies, global temperatures could rise by 2.8°C above pre-industrial levels within this century.
UN officials emphasized the imperative for immediate, aggressive emissions reductions and rapid implementation of early warning systems to cushion vulnerable communities against impending heatwaves, severe droughts, and localized flooding.
