Forecasters predict strongest El Nino on record, with global consequences
This year's El Nino is projected to be the most intense in over a century, according to the UK Met Office. It could make 2027 the hottest year on record, and when combined with climate change, will show what conditions may be like by the late 2030s. The phenomenon threatens extreme weather worldwide.
The UK Met Office's head of long-range forecasting issued the warning on Friday, indicating this El Nino event will surpass all others recorded in over a century. The phenomenon, which naturally warms Pacific Ocean waters, typically disrupts weather patterns worldwide, bringing floods, droughts, and storms to different regions.
Scientists emphasize that this natural climate fluctuation is compounding with human-caused warming. The combined effect may preview conditions expected by the late 2030s, making 2027 potentially the hottest year ever measured. The report was published by France 24 on 21 August 2026, with video reporting by Camille Knight.
This event could affect billions of people through disrupted agriculture, water supplies, and infrastructure. Vulnerable populations in developing nations may face the most severe consequences, while global food prices could rise. The preview of late-2030s conditions may also pressure governments to accelerate climate adaptation measures, though responses will likely vary by region and economic capacity.