The El Niño phenomenon currently being observed is on track to reach one of the strongest levels ever recorded.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing international media, that climate scientists are warning that the intensifying El Niño in the Pacific Ocean could become the most severe event in the last 150 years.
The release of massive amounts of heat from the ocean into the atmosphere, combined with human-induced global warming, could make the coming year the hottest on record. Experts predict that the peak of this El Niño will significantly surpass previous records. The event is expected to have a serious impact on precipitation patterns, temperature indicators, and hurricane trajectories.
Projections indicate that by 2027, the global average temperature could be 1.7 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, exceeding the 1.5-degree critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has stated that El Niño conditions are almost certain to persist until at least April 2027, with a high probability of temperatures reaching new record levels throughout 2026.
The droughts, extreme heat, floods, and wildfires caused by El Niño pose a severe threat to the global economy. Researchers estimate that the current situation could cause $10 trillion in damage to the world economy by 2032. Goldman Sachs analysts have emphasized that a "Super El Niño" could cause a 15.8 percent increase in global food prices. Specifically, reduced monsoon rains in India are expected to negatively impact the production of wheat, rice, and sugarcane, while the European Central Bank has warned that prices for staple food products could rise by up to 9 percent.
Rising ocean temperatures are also endangering marine ecosystems by causing mass coral bleaching. Furthermore, it is reported that the amount of net carbon absorbed by the oceans from the atmosphere will decrease. Scientists are continuing research to determine whether global warming is intensifying El Niño or if El Niño is accelerating the global warming process.
