El Niño intensifying, to boost global temperatures above average: WMO

The world is facing a heightened risk of extreme weather as the El Niño phenomenon intensifies, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned Friday. The climate pattern is expected to drive global temperatures above historical averages from August to October, significantly impacting rainfall patterns worldwide.

Regions most vulnerable to higher temperatures include Central America, the Caribbean, much of South America, southern Europe, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and New Zealand. Conversely, southeastern South America and southern Europe may experience above-average rainfall, while northwestern South America and northern Europe could face severe drought conditions.

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El Niño is intensifying and adding fuel to a planet that is already on fire, with scorching heat, apocalyptic wildfires and record sea temperatures.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning, stating that El Niño is "adding fuel to a planet that is already on fire." He directly linked the worsening of extreme weather events to the burning of fossil fuels, emphasizing that continued reliance on coal, oil, and gas will lead to a more volatile future with potentially deadlier consequences.

The WMO's analysis, based on global meteorological centers, projects sea surface temperatures to be approximately 2.9 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average during the analyzed period. This, combined with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, is expected to amplify regional climate anomalies, increasing the risks of prolonged droughts, flash floods, and widespread wildfires. In response, the WMO is strengthening climate information services and early warning systems in vulnerable countries to mitigate socioeconomic impacts.

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More coal, oil and gas will lead to a more flammable future and, if we do not act, the dangers will be even deadlier.