The El Niño weather pattern is anticipated to strengthen further until 2027 and could potentially become the most powerful on record, heightening the likelihood of extreme weather events in the coming year, as stated by the World Meteorological Organization on Thursday.

During a news conference in Geneva, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo mentioned, “If the current trend persists, this could potentially be the most potent El Niño event we have observed since the commencement of our monitoring system. It is surpassing all previous records from the past four decades.”

The United Nations weather agency indicated that its projections indicate an almost certain continuation of El Niño through February 2027, driven by exceptionally warm temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. This level of certainty is unprecedented according to the WMO.

A particularly intense El Niño has the potential to significantly alter global rainfall and temperature patterns, leading to extreme weather occurrences such as typhoons.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked, “We are witnessing the enlargement of El Niño right in front of us. The scientific evidence is unequivocal: our planet is entering uncharted territory, and these uncharted waters are getting warmer.”

El Niño is characterized by periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean due to weakening trade winds. It naturally occurs every two to seven years and typically lasts up to 12 months, causing both severe droughts and heavy rainfall across Latin America.

The current El Niño event has already impacted soft commodity production in tropical regions, resulting in a severe food crisis in Central America’s Dry Corridor.

According to the WMO, El Niño is expected to peak later this year but will continue to affect weather patterns into 2027, leaving elevated global temperatures in its aftermath, as per Saulo.

Saulo emphasized that the WMO is enhancing preparedness and early warning systems in anticipation of the impending conditions.

“We are dedicated to collaborating closely with partners within the United Nations and humanitarian networks to provide essential climate information and insights to support disaster management and climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, health, energy, and water resources,” she stated.