UN Climate Agency Warns of Strong El Nino Through February

With El Nino firmly established and expected to peak by year-end, the World Meteorological Organization warns of a high-intensity event persisting through February. The phenomenon threatens to disrupt global rainfall and temperature patterns, bringing heightened risks of flooding, prolonged drought, and extreme heat waves to vulnerable regions worldwide.

Editorial·September 3, 2026·reads: 2,612

UN Climate Agency Warns of Strong El Nino Through February

While El Nino occurs as a natural climate cycle independent of human-induced warming, researchers anticipate it will amplify the effects of an already heating planet. The confluence of this natural cycle and fossil-fuel-driven temperature increases pushes global weather systems into unprecedented territory, according to the UN climate agency.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the current situation as a "supersized" event, noting that rising sea surface temperatures have placed the world in a precarious danger zone. The agency emphasized that while the peak of the current cycle is expected in the coming months, the secondary climatic impacts are likely to linger through 2027. The challenge now shifts to mounting effective protective measures as atmospheric and oceanic conditions continue their steady climb.