The world must prepare for the imminent return of El Niño and the extreme weather conditions it brings, the United Nations has warned.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm for an extended period.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is an 80% probability that the phenomenon will develop before September and a 90% chance it will persist until November. The agency said most climate models suggest the upcoming cycle will be at least of moderate intensity, with the possibility of becoming strong.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the world must treat this as an urgent climate warning.
“El Niño conditions will add fuel to the fire of a warming world,” he said, adding that its impacts will be stronger, more widespread, and more destructive.
The most recent El Niño event (2023–2024) was among the five strongest ever recorded and contributed to 2024 becoming one of the hottest years on record, breaking global temperature records.
The WMO also warned of unusually high temperatures across most parts of the world in the coming months, along with an increased risk of extreme rainfall and droughts.
Typical El Niño effects include heavier rainfall in parts of South America, southern United States, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia, while drier-than-normal conditions often affect Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia, and parts of South Asia.
