WMO confirms El Niño intensifying globally, warns of impacts including in Argentina

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that the El Niño phenomenon is rapidly intensifying, with global impacts expected to persist through March 2027. This intensification, occurring alongside unprecedented ocean heat and rising global temperatures due to climate change, presents a significant challenge.

Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, emphasized that while El Niño is closely monitored, forecasts alone do not prevent dangers. She highlighted that governments and communities have a crucial window of opportunity to anticipate risks and act proactively before impacts manifest. The current El Niño episode is noted as being unparalleled.

Global projections indicate a high probability of above-average temperatures across most continental areas, affecting regions from Africa and Europe to Asia and the Americas. Wetter-than-normal conditions are anticipated in parts of the Horn of Africa, Central Asia, southern Europe, western North America, and southeastern South America. Conversely, drier conditions are expected in the Indian subcontinent, southern and eastern Australia, southern Central America, parts of the Caribbean, northwestern South America, and northern Europe.

In Argentina, the specific impacts of El Niño vary regionally. The Litoral, the Río de la Plata basin, and much of the central country are likely to experience increased rainfall, raising the risk of floods and river overflows. However, regions like Cuyo might see a reduction in prolonged drought conditions.

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El Niño is one of the most closely monitored climate phenomena in the world. But forecasts alone do not prevent dangers; people do. The development of this El Niño, in a context of unprecedented oceanic heat and rising temperatures, gives governments and communities a window of opportunity to anticipate risks and act before the impacts manifest.