WMO warns 2026 El Niño to persist until February, intensifying global weather impacts

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning that the ongoing El Niño climate pattern, which has raised sea‑surface temperatures across the central and eastern Pacific, is expected to persist until at least February. The agency’s statement, released after its latest global climate assessment, highlights that the anomalously warm Pacific waters are likely to influence atmospheric circulation and weather systems worldwide for several more months.

According to the WMO, the prolonged El Niño could intensify extreme weather events, including heightened risks of heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of South America, the United States, and East Asia, while simultaneously increasing the likelihood of drought conditions in Australia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa. The organization notes that the phenomenon’s strength this cycle rivals previous severe episodes, which have been linked to agricultural losses, water‑resource challenges, and heightened wildfire danger in affected regions. Meteorological agencies across the globe are being urged to incorporate the extended forecast into seasonal planning and disaster‑preparedness strategies.

The WMO emphasizes that continuous monitoring of sea‑surface temperatures and atmospheric indicators will be essential to refine forecasts as the event unfolds. Governments and humanitarian groups are advised to remain vigilant and to activate contingency measures to mitigate the anticipated impacts on food security, public health, and infrastructure throughout the remainder of the year.