WORLD IN “DANGER ZONE”: Guterres sounds alarm as powerful El Niño looms

1 Views UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the planet has entered a “danger zone of extreme weather” as a powerful El Niño begins to impact countries worldwide. Speaking in a video message Thursday during the launch of the United Nations Environment Programme’s _Overshoot Report_, Guterres said humanity is moving past the threshold needed […]

1 Views

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the planet has entered a “danger zone of extreme weather” as a powerful El Niño begins to impact countries worldwide.

Speaking in a video message Thursday during the launch of the United Nations Environment Programme’s _Overshoot Report_, Guterres said humanity is moving past the threshold needed to avoid climate catastrophe.

The World Meteorological Organization has released new data showing the current El Niño could become the strongest in more than 70 years. WMO says the phenomenon is now firmly established and is forecast to intensify to a “very strong” event in the coming months, peaking toward the end of 2026. It is expected to persist until at least February 2027, with near 100% likelihood according to WMO models.

Driven by unusually warm ocean temperatures across the tropical Pacific, the event is projected to grow stronger through the rest of 2026.

For the period September–November 2026, WMO multi-model forecasts point to above-normal temperatures across nearly all land areas. The rainfall outlook also shows a classic atmospheric response linked to a strong Pacific El Niño.

WMO cautions that while the intensifying El Niño will have major effects on rainfall and temperature patterns, the impacts will not be uniform. The risks of floods, droughts and extreme heat are expected to rise, but the exact effects will depend on location, season and other climate factors. Historically, El Niño pushes some regions into drought while bringing heavier typhoons and flooding to others.

“The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up,” Guterres said. “Sea surface temperatures are rising, temperatures keep climbing, and the world is in the danger zone of extreme weather. The race now is between rising risks and our commitment to take climate action and protect people. We must win that race.”

WMO and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services say they are ramping up preparedness and early-warning systems for what could be an exceptional event.

“This exceptional El Niño demands exceptional preparation and response,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “Never before in the 50-year history of the World Meteorological Organization have we launched such a major mobilization with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services who are on the frontline of delivering the forecasts and services to save lives and livelihoods.” -WMO