Earth's population has been warned: 2027 could be the hottest year on record.
The strongest El Niño event of the last century is forming in the Pacific Ocean.
The UK's Met Office meteorological service has announced that the El Nino phenomenon forming in the Pacific Ocean could become the strongest event observed in living memory. According to forecasts, the event will intensify at the end of 2026, and 2027 could set a new global temperature record, it is possible.
El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by a periodic rise in sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean due to the weakening of trade winds. It typically recurs every two to seven years and lasts from nine to 12 months. The event can alter rainfall and temperature patterns worldwide, negatively impacting agriculture.
According to the Met Office, by the end of 2026, sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are expected to rise by more than 3 degrees. In a typical El Nino event, temperatures rise by 1–2 degrees, while a 2-degree increase is considered a major event.
Adam Scaife, head of the Met Office's long-range forecasts division, noted that if current forecasts are confirmed, the 2026 El Nino will be significantly stronger than events observed in recent times. Other forecasting systems also indicate an exceptionally high rise in Pacific temperatures.
According to meteorologists' forecasts, a strong El Nino will lead to a further increase in global average temperatures. Therefore, there is a high probability that 2027 will surpass 2024 and become the hottest year in the history of observations.
A strong El Nino could bring contrasting climatic consequences to different regions of the world. Drought is expected to intensify in some tropical and southern hemisphere areas, while precipitation and storms are expected to increase in northwestern Europe.
