The Super Niño phenomenon has strengthened and will reach a high intensity in the coming months, causing significant changes in rainfall and temperature patterns, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Floods, droughts and extreme heat are some of the climatic alterations that will be evident during the presence of the climatic phenomenon that, according to the world meteorological organization, will extend until next year.
Forecasts from the WMO's Global Production Centres indicate an "exceptionally high, close to 100%" probability that El Niño will persist until February 2027. This is the first time a WMO update on El Niño and La Niña has been so categorical, reflecting the broad consensus within the organization's extensive network.
Ocean warming
This climatic phenomenon, caused by ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, is expected to strengthen in the coming months, reaching a very high intensity before peaking towards the end of this year, according to the WMO.
“El Niño is reaching enormous proportions before our very eyes. Science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is navigating uncharted waters, and those waters are warming. Sea surface temperatures are rising, overall temperatures continue to climb, and the world is in a danger zone due to extreme weather events. The race now is between the escalating risks and our commitment to climate action and protecting people. We must win that race,” declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
He asserted that the effects of Super Niño require “exceptional preparation and response. Never before in the 50-year history of the World Meteorological Organization have we launched such a large-scale mobilization with the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, which are on the front line in providing the forecasts and services needed to save lives and protect livelihoods.”
For its part, the UN is committed to working closely with its humanitarian partners to provide the climate information and expertise needed to support disaster management and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, and water resources. “We have no time to lose,” Guterres said.
The El Niño and La Niña phenomena are among the most powerful natural factors influencing the global climate system. A high-intensity episode increases the likelihood of significant changes in precipitation, temperatures, and atmospheric circulation in many regions of the planet.
However, the intensity of an El Niño episode does not by itself determine the severity of its repercussions in a specific country or region.
Its effects vary depending on location and season, and can be modified by other climatic factors, including conditions in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
Therefore, the WMO has published a Global Seasonal Climate Update complementary information that gathers data on El Niño and other important climatic factors, allowing for a more accurate picture of the expected conditions.
For the period from September to November 2026, WMO multi-model forecasts indicate a higher probability of above-normal temperatures in almost all land areas, along with precipitation patterns that show a pronounced atmospheric response characteristic of the strong El Niño event in the Pacific.
A positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is also expected, reaching a seasonal mean of 0,9°C for the September-October-November quarter of 2026. Furthermore, the equatorial Atlantic basin is forecast to remain generally warm, with above-normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in both the North and South Tropical Atlantic. These conditions may reinforce, attenuate, or alter the typical impacts of El Niño in different regions.
A call for ecological climate awareness
In Venezuela, due to its location facing the Caribbean Sea, some effects of the climate phenomenon will be evident, so President Delcy Rodríguez urged the population to have "a different ecological climate awareness in order to face the consequences of the climate emergency."
In that regard, he set the goal of achieving an additional 480 MW of available capacity, in addition to the contracts already signed with companies like General Electric and INSA, to generate, strengthen, and make the national electricity system more robust. He also requested the activation of the National Economic Council to coordinate with the agribusiness sector to protect agricultural production. "We need to have special plans in place; we can't wait for it to happen. We're going to prepare," he stated.
In the face of the Super Niño phenomenon, inter-institutional collaboration is essential to implement concrete actions that guarantee the life and well-being of everyone.
