Inameh activates environmental watch after El Niño confirmed to have begun

Venezuela's National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) has activated an environmental monitoring system following the formal confirmation of the El Niño phenomenon's beginning. The institute, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior Relations, Justice, and Peace, issued a technical advisory to monitor projected alterations in global and national climate patterns.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially declared the transition to El Niño conditions on June 11, 2026. Meteorological prediction models suggest the phenomenon will strengthen consistently in the coming months, extending its influence through the Northern Hemisphere's winter of 2026-2027. International meteorological centers estimate a 63% probability that the event will evolve into a "very strong" category between November 2026 and January 2027.

If current estimates hold, this El Niño episode could rank among the most significant thermal anomalies in the global historical record, which began systematic measurements in 1950. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued complementary alerts, noting that El Niño typically leads to a rise in average global temperatures and exacerbates extreme weather patterns.

Seasonal forecast maps for June to August already anticipate higher-than-average temperatures across most of the globe, prompting international organizations to urge governments to develop mitigation and risk management plans. For Venezuela, Inameh recalled that while each El Niño event is unique, historical patterns in the country show a direct correlation with decreased annual rainfall and increased local temperatures. In response, national authorities have activated real-time measurement systems to track drought and water vulnerability variables.