UN warns that a record-breaking El Niño could trigger worldwide extreme weather
The UN says a rapidly intensifying El Niño may become the strongest in 70 years, raising the risk of droughts, floods and heat worldwide through early 2027.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the planet has entered a "danger zone of extreme weather" as an unusually strong El Niño develops. Data from the World Meteorological Organization show central Pacific sea temperatures more than 2 °C above normal, with projections of up to 4 °C, potentially making it the most intense event since at least 1950. The agency has launched a major mobilisation to disseminate forecasts, while nations are upgrading early-warning networks and arranging medical support for at-risk communities.
Expected consequences include droughts across Southeast Asia and parts of the Americas, intensified wildfires in Indonesia, and a surge in typhoons hitting China, already linked to recent deadly storms. In Australia, marine heatwaves threaten marine ecosystems, though the Great Barrier Reef may avoid the worst conditions. Experts note that the El Niño’s heat will overlay ongoing human-induced warming, amplifying its impacts on agriculture, water supplies and public health.
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Why it matters
A record-strong El Niño could worsen droughts, floods and heat, affecting food, health and economies worldwide.
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