El Niño to intensify further, peak expected in December: WMO

The World Meteorological Organization has cautioned that El Niño conditions are rapidly intensifying ahead of their forecast peak in December, with significant implications for weather patterns across South Asia. According to the UN agency's latest assessment, El Niño is expected to maintain its strength through February 2027 with near-100% probability, extending the duration and impact of the climate phenomenon well into the new year.

The intensifying El Niño conditions carry substantial risks for India and the broader region. Meteorologists have flagged heightened vulnerability to elevated temperatures, extended dry spells, and potential ecological disruptions as the phenomenon strengthens. Agricultural sectors dependent on monsoon patterns face particular concerns as El Niño typically suppresses rainfall during the critical monsoon season.

El Niño, characterized by warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, influences global weather systems and can trigger cascading climate impacts thousands of kilometers away. The WMO's assessment underscores the need for preparedness measures across vulnerable sectors including agriculture, water management, and disaster response infrastructure.

Governments and regional agencies are expected to factor the WMO projections into contingency planning and resource allocation. The extended forecast window through early 2027 provides policymakers with critical lead time to implement adaptive strategies, though the precise regional impacts will depend on interaction with other climate variables and local conditions.