El Niño to Peak at End of 2026, Lasting into February 2027, WMO Says

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed on Thursday that a strong El Niño event is now firmly established in the tropical Pacific. According to the latest update from Geneva, this climate phenomenon will continue to intensify, reaching its peak around the end of 2026. The WMO reports that the event will remain active well into early 2027, with effects likely to persist through February of that year. Global forecasting centers contributing to the update place the probability of the event continuing until then at “nearly 100%.” El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. It can disrupt weather worldwide, often leading to heavy rains, droughts, or other extreme conditions in different regions. The WMO’s assessment highlights that the current event is expected to be “very strong,” meaning its global impact on temperature, rainfall, and storm patterns could be significant. Scientists will continue to monitor its development as it influences weather systems over the coming months.