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El Niño phenomenon projected to reach record intensity by December
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the current El Niño phenomenon is strengthening rapidly and could become one of the most intense events recorded since 1950. Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region of the central and eastern tropical Pacific have reached unprecedented levels, recently exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Projections indicate that the temperature anomaly in this region could reach approximately 3.7°C above normal between October and December 2026, surpassing the previous record of 2.6°C set in 2015-2016.
The event is expected to peak in December and is nearly 100% certain to persist through February 2027. This intensification is expected to disrupt global weather patterns, increasing the risks of extreme heat, droughts, and flooding. UNICEF has issued an alert stating that over 347 million children in nearly 100 countries are at risk of facing severe consequences, including malnutrition, water scarcity, and disease outbreaks due to these shifting precipitation patterns.
Regional impacts vary, with potential for increased rainfall in parts of North America and East Asia, while the Indian subcontinent and parts of South America may face drier-than-normal conditions. In Latin America, the phenomenon is already impacting local economies, such as the fishing industry in Ecuador and Panama, where rising water temperatures have forced fish populations to migrate deeper.
Entities
Alfred Wegener Institute · Celeste Saulo · Helge Gößling · Niño 3. 4 region · Niño 3.4 region · Pacific Ocean · UNICEF · United Nations · World Meteorological Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sea surface temperature anomalies in the Niño 1+2 region reached 5.3°C. www.abcmais.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The El Niño peak is expected to exceed 4°C in December 2026. www.yourweather.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Santa Catarina is expected to experience frequent and voluminous rainfall in October. jornalceleiro.com.br
- [● 7 SOURCES] Over 347 million children in nearly 100 countries could be exposed to extreme weather due to El Niño. anda.jor.br · sondakikakibris.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · 21noticias.com · www.dire.it · +2 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Southern region of Brazil is expected to see rainfall volumes above average. jornalempresasenegocios.com.br
- [● 5 SOURCES] There is a 90% chance the El Niño will reach very strong intensity between October and December. jornalempresasenegocios.com.br · laist.com · sondakikakibris.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · 21noticias.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ecuador's coastal regions are expected to experience above-normal rainfall in October. www.elcomercio.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The San Diego City Council declared a local state of emergency to prepare for severe El Niño weather. www.kpbs.org
- [● 4 SOURCES] El Niño could lead to 451,000 deaths globally due to extreme heat. sondakikakibris.com · www.karar.com · www.habermeydan.com · www.gazetebirlik.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] There is a 75% probability that the El Niño event will be more intense than any recorded since 1950. sondakikakibris.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · 21noticias.com · www.karar.com · www.habermeydan.com · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 41 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean are at risk of extreme weather. www.globaldiasporanews.com · 21noticias.com · www.corrierenazionale.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] There is a 90% chance El Niño will reach very strong intensity between October and December. sondakikakibris.com · www.globaldiasporanews.com · 21noticias.com · jornalempresasenegocios.com.br