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United Nations Weather Agency Reports 'Exceptional' Global Temperatures to Persist Through Year-End

United Nations Weather Agency Reports 'Exceptional' Global Temperatures to Persist Through Year-End

The United Nations weather agency has released a report indicating that 'exceptional' global temperatures are projected to continue through the end of the year. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2026 is on track to be one of the four warmest years ever recorded, with global average surface temperatures from January to September approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The WMO further notes that the past 12 years have individually been the warmest on record, with the last four years topping this list. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the El Niño phenomenon, which has been developing since August, is contributing to this warming by releasing heat from the ocean, which is currently the warmest ever measured. This warming effect is expected to intensify through December, with a very strong El Niño anticipated to lead to more extreme weather events into 2027. The report also highlights that approximately 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by gr...
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El Niño Strengthens to 'Super El Niño' Status, Expected to Impact U.S. Winter Weather

El Niño Strengthens to 'Super El Niño' Status, Expected to Impact U.S. Winter Weather

El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, has intensified to 'Super El Niño' status. This designation occurs when sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific exceed 2.0°C, a threshold that has been met with reported anomalies of 2.5°C. This year's event is considered exceptionally strong, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projecting an over 80% chance it could be the strongest since 1950. The phenomenon, named by Peruvian fishermen for its tendency to appear around Christmas, is expected to persist into early 2027. Its influence extends globally, affecting the jet stream and weather patterns across the United States, leading to questions about its impact on winter temperatures, snowfall, and storms. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which includes El Niño and its cooler counterpart La Niña, is the largest driver of year-to-year weather variability worldwide.
USA TodayUSA Today
First freeze of the season threatens millions in the US. See where

First freeze of the season threatens millions in the US. See where

Several states are bracing for the coldest temperatures of fall, with millions facing their first freeze of the season.
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Fiji's Northern Division Warned to Enhance El Niño Preparedness Amidst Ongoing Impacts

Fiji's Northern Division Warned to Enhance El Niño Preparedness Amidst Ongoing Impacts

Fiji's Northern Division is being urged to strengthen its preparedness for climate-related disasters as the country continues to experience the effects of the current El Niño event. This call was made during the official opening of the 9th National Climate Outlook Forum in Labasa, marking the first time the forum has been hosted in the Northern Division. Acting Commissioner Northern Division Apolosi Lewaqai emphasized the need to move beyond reactive disaster management towards building resilient communities. Senior Scientist at the Fiji Meteorological Services, Arieta Baleisolomone, confirmed that the Northern and Western divisions typically bear the brunt of El Niño's effects, with communities already reporting impacts on the ground. The forum aims to raise awareness among Northern Division communities about the likely impacts of the current climate event.
1Weather1Weather
Warm Autumn Breaks Records Across the U.S.

Warm Autumn Breaks Records Across the U.S.

The fall of 2026 has been one of the warmest on record across the United States. September was the hottest ever recorded for the lower 48 states, with 43 states experiencing above-average temperatures. October continued the trend, with the Upper Midwest seeing temperatures more than 7°F (4°C) above normal. Cities like Omaha and the Twin Cities reported some of their warmest Octobers in history. Even as November begins, regions like Pittsburgh and southern New England are experiencing unseasonably warm weather, delaying typical fall conditions.
USA TodayUSA Today
El Niño is coming for your 5-day weather forecast

El Niño is coming for your 5-day weather forecast

A strong El Niño has already upended hurricane season and sent planetary waves to batter California. Soon its effects could steer daily U.S. weather.
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La Niña Conditions Enhance Accuracy of Long-Range El Niño Forecasts, Study Finds

La Niña Conditions Enhance Accuracy of Long-Range El Niño Forecasts, Study Finds

New research indicates that El Niño forecasts initiated during La Niña conditions are significantly more accurate up to a year in advance. The study, which analyzed 7,500 forecasts from nine different models, found a consistent pattern: predictions made when the Pacific was in a La Niña phase were most successful in foretelling future El Niño events. Conversely, forecasts made during neutral conditions were often incorrect. This discovery suggests that La Niña has a stabilizing influence on climate models, making their long-range predictions more reliable. El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific that influences global weather patterns. While El Niño typically brings warmer global temperatures and altered weather, La Niña is characterized by cooler surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. The ability to predict El Niño events earlier could provide crucial lead time for communities to prepare f...
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Strong El Niño Expected to Significantly Impact U.S. Crop Yields in 2027

Strong El Niño Expected to Significantly Impact U.S. Crop Yields in 2027

A very strong El Niño event is currently underway, with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center indicating an over 83% chance of it persisting through March 2027 and exceeding the intensity of any El Niño since 1950. This climate pattern is expected to bring above-normal rainfall to the southern Plains and milder conditions to the north during the winter of 2026-2027. Historically, strong El Niño winters have led to varied impacts on U.S. crop yields in the subsequent year. Winter wheat in the Plains states, including South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado, has averaged significantly above normal yields (12-18% higher). Cotton in Texas has also seen an average increase of about 10%. Conversely, corn yields in the Southeast have tended to be lower, with Atlantic states experiencing 9-11% below-normal yields. Soybean impacts are mixed, with some Midwestern states seeing gains while others in the South experience slight declines. The El Niño pattern typically dissipates by the following summer...
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New Research Suggests Some El Niño Events Predictable Up to a Year in Advance, Especially During La Niña Conditions

New Research Suggests Some El Niño Events Predictable Up to a Year in Advance, Especially During La Niña Conditions

A new study indicates that certain El Niño events may be accurately predicted up to 12 months in advance, significantly extending the current reliable forecast window. This research, which analyzed 7,500 forecasts from nine different climate models, found that predictions initiated during La Niña conditions were consistently more reliable for forecasting events a year later. Conversely, forecasts made during neutral conditions were often inaccurate. This discovery challenges the long-held understanding of forecast limitations, particularly the 'Bermuda triangle' period between March and May, when predictions are typically unreliable due to atmospheric and oceanic conditions. The study suggests that La Niña conditions have a stabilizing influence on the climate system, making it less susceptible to the 'butterfly effect' and allowing for more accurate long-range predictions. This could provide valuable lead time for communities and governments to prepare for the extreme weather events often associated with ...
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UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

A new U.N. climate report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released on the first day of COP31, indicates that 2026 is projected to be among the four hottest years on record. This elevated temperature trend is expected to persist into early 2027, largely due to an unusually powerful El Niño phenomenon. The report states that the global average surface temperature from January to September was approximately 2.65°F (1.47°C) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. The past 12 years have consistently ranked among the hottest, with 2023 through 2026 occupying the top four positions. The current El Niño, intensifying since August, is anticipated to be the strongest on record by December, acting as a 'risk multiplier' for health and exacerbating human-caused climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, classified the anticipated health impacts of extreme heat and the record-breaking El Niño as a health emergency.
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Extreme Rain Raises Navajo Reservoir by 60 Feet

Extreme Rain Raises Navajo Reservoir by 60 Feet

Back-to-back extreme rain events in late October and early November 2026 caused significant flooding across the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest. The Navajo Reservoir, located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, rose by nearly 60 feet (18 meters) during this period, reaching its highest level since August 2019. The storms alleviated short-term drought conditions but triggered damaging floods, particularly in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where the San Juan River reached major flood stage twice. Experts attribute the heavy rainfall to a low-pressure system energized by unusually high ocean temperatures and El Niño patterns.
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Study Links Strong El Niño Episodes to Increased Heat-Related Deaths and Decreased Cold-Related Deaths Globally

Study Links Strong El Niño Episodes to Increased Heat-Related Deaths and Decreased Cold-Related Deaths Globally

A new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has found a significant correlation between very strong El Niño episodes and temperature-related mortality worldwide. The research, which analyzed climate and mortality data from 1980–2023 across 1,667 regions in 125 countries, estimates that these intense El Niño events are associated with an additional 107,035 heat-related deaths and 112,681 fewer cold-related deaths annually compared to neutral conditions. While these figures appear to largely offset each other globally, the study emphasizes that El Niño is not beneficial for health. The health burden is disproportionately borne by lower-resource countries, particularly in tropical regions. South America, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), sub-Saharan Africa, and South and South-East Asia experienced the largest increases in annual heat-related mortality during strong El Niño years. Countries with low or medium Human Development Index (HDI) accounted for 67.65% of the estimated incr...