WMO Warns of Possible Strong El Niño, Heightening Global Weather Risks
Jun 03, 2026
The United Nations weather agency has warned that a moderate to potentially strong El Niño is likely to develop in the coming months, raising concerns about higher global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events worldwide.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are driving the phenomenon. The agency forecasts above-average temperatures across most regions of the world between June and August and expects El Niño conditions to persist until at least November.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo urged countries to prepare for the possibility of a strong El Niño, warning that it could intensify droughts, trigger heavy rainfall and flooding, and increase the risk of heatwaves on land and in the oceans.
The WMO said El Niño often brings drought conditions to parts of Australia, Indonesia, Central America and South Asia, while also influencing hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific.
The agency noted that the 2023–24 El Niño event contributed to record global temperatures and cautioned that extreme heat could increase the spread of mosquito-borne diseases while placing additional pressure on food and water resources.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the development highlights the urgent need to accelerate the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
