WMO warns of Super El Niño peak by late 2026

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the El Niño weather phenomenon is set to become very strong in the coming months, with its peak expected at the end of 2026 and effects likely extending into February 2027. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo described the event as having the potential to deliver a massive blow to societies and economies across the globe.

Extreme weather risks

The UN meteorological agency cited elevated risks of floods, droughts, and heat waves across different regions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the alarm, urging governments and disaster preparedness agencies to take appropriate precautions. Agriculture, health systems, and energy supply are among the sectors most at risk, according to Saulo.

Hunger crises in Central America

The UK Met Office has described the developing event as potentially the most intense El Niño in over a century. The UN World Food Programme warned that Central America faces particularly severe consequences, with Honduras, Panama, and El Salvador all declaring drought emergencies in late August. Other regions expecting drought include Australia, Indonesia, and southern Africa, while heavy rainfall is forecast for South America's Pacific coast, the Horn of Africa, and the southern United States.

Record temperatures

Global temperatures tend to spike in the wake of El Niño years. July 2026 was already recorded at 22.48°C — roughly 2.5°C above the 1991–2020 average — and the WMO forecasts above-average temperatures across virtually all land areas from September through November. The phenomenon is driven by warming of the sea surface in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific, which alters wind patterns, air pressure, and rainfall worldwide.