The World Meteorological Organization said today, Friday, that the likelihood of the “El Niño” phenomenon is increasing starting from mid-2026, which will affect temperatures and rainfall rates around the world.
The latest report from the organization indicated a “significant change in the tropical Pacific,” explaining that “sea surface temperatures are rising rapidly, which warns of a potential return of the El Niño phenomenon between May and July 2026.”
Forecasts for the next three months indicate a near-global dominance of higher-than-normal temperatures on the earth’s surface, along with local fluctuations in rainfall rates, according to the organization, relying on predictions from several climate centers.
The head of the climate forecasting department at the organization, Wilfran Mofuma Okia, stated, “After a period of neutral climatic conditions that was witnessed at the beginning of the year following the La Niña phenomenon that occurred in 2025 and 2026, we expect a significant onset of the El Niño phenomenon and then an increase in its intensity during the following months.”
The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts between nine to twelve months.
