WMO: El Niño to Hit Top 'Very Strong' Category, Linger Into 2027

The WMO warned on September 3, 2026, that El Niño — the Pacific Ocean warming pattern that disrupts global weather — will reach "very strong," its highest tier, and persist into early 2027. The agency forecasts near-certain continuation through February, peaking late 2026. WMO chief Celeste Saulo called it "off the charts" versus four decades of monitoring. Above-normal temperatures are expected across nearly all land areas through November.