THE World Meteorological Organization (WMO)The WMO, the United Nations meteorological agency, warned on Friday (31) that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to intensify between August and October 2026, increasing the risk of extreme weather events in several regions of the planet. In addition to the strengthening of El Niño, the agency predicts the occurrence of a Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a climate pattern characterized by warming waters in the western Indian Ocean and above-average cooling in the eastern portion. According to the WMO, the combination of the two phenomena could enhance regional climate impacts, increasing the occurrence of droughts, floods and forest fires, especially in countries located in the Indian Ocean basin. Faced with this scenario, the agency reported that it is reinforcing the mobilization of meteorological information and support services to assist countries in anticipating and mitigating the effects of El Niño. "El Niño is strengthening, fueling a planet already ablaze with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires, and record-breaking ocean temperatures. Fossil fuels are fanning the flames of this crisis," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.