rki.news | Source: Xinhua
GENEVA, July 3: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific are expected to intensify in the coming months, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather worldwide.
According to WMO’s Global Seasonal Climate Update, El Niño is projected to strengthen during the July–September 2026 period, with models showing significant warming of sea-surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
The organization said model agreement raises confidence that temperatures could exceed 2°C above long-term averages in key regions.
WMO noted the phenomenon is likely to intensify further in the Northern Hemisphere autumn, with impacts across multiple continents. The equatorial Atlantic is also expected to remain warmer than average.
The update predicts a high probability of above-average temperatures across most land areas between 60°S and 60°N, affecting nearly all populated regions outside polar zones.
For rainfall, above-normal precipitation is expected in parts of the central and eastern Pacific, while drier-than-normal conditions are likely over the Indian Ocean, the Indian subcontinent and Australia.
The WMO said El Niño events typically occur every two to seven years and can influence global weather patterns for up to a year, urging stronger preparedness and early warning systems.