Brace for More Heat: El Niño Likely to Peak in December, WMO Warns

The ongoing El Niño is expected to intensify in the coming months, with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warning that the climate phenomenon is likely to reach its peak in December.

The UN weather agency has said that the strengthening El Niño could result in above-average temperatures across large parts of the world. The changing climate pattern may also disrupt normal rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of both droughts and floods in different regions.

El Niño Expected to Peak in December

According to the WMO, the October-December period is expected to see the ongoing El Niño reach its peak. The event is also expected to continue into the spring of 2027 in the Northern Hemisphere.

The warning means that the effects of El Niño are likely to remain significant over the coming months rather than weakening immediately after its expected December peak.

The WMO has also indicated that there is a near-100 per cent likelihood that El Niño will persist through February 2027.

Higher Temperatures Across the World

One of the major expected impacts of the intensifying El Niño is a rise in temperatures across large parts of the world.

The WMO has warned of above-average temperatures in the coming months. This could add to heat-related conditions in regions already experiencing unusually high temperatures.

The expected warming is part of the broader global weather disruption associated with the climate pattern.

Increased Risk of Droughts and Floods

The WMO has also highlighted the possibility of increased risks from both droughts and floods.

El Niño is associated with changes in normal rainfall patterns. As the phenomenon intensifies, these shifts can alter the distribution of rainfall across different regions.

Some areas may experience below-normal rainfall and face drought conditions, while others could receive excessive rainfall and face an increased risk of flooding.

Impact on India

The ongoing El Niño has already affected India’s rainfall during the second half of the monsoon season, according to the report.

Several states, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, have declared drought.

The continuation and expected intensification of El Niño could therefore remain an important weather and climate concern for India in the months ahead.

What Is El Niño?

El Niño is a climate pattern characterised by unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean. These warmer-than-usual Pacific waters can influence atmospheric conditions and disrupt normal weather patterns in different parts of the world.

The current El Niño is expected to remain active well into 2027. With its peak likely during the October-December period, the WMO's warning points to continued changes in temperatures and rainfall patterns over the coming months.

The combination of higher temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns means that different regions could face varying weather impacts, including increased risks of heat, drought and flooding.

The WMO's latest assessment indicates that the climate phenomenon is not expected to end immediately after December, with the organisation expecting it to extend into the Northern Hemisphere's spring of 2027.