Earth Turns ‘Almost Entirely Red’ As ‘Super-Duper El Nino’ Threatens Record Global Heat, WMO Warns Of 3.7°C Pacific Anomaly
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Global weather patterns could face severe disruption as an intensifying El Nino pushes the tropical Pacific towards record temperatures, with sea surface temperatures forecast to reach around 3.7°C above normal between October and December 2026. Experts have warned that the ‘super-duper El Nino’ could drive extreme heat across large parts of the planet, with one climate map showing Earth ‘almost entirely red’.
The United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that the phenomenon could become one of the strongest El Nino events recorded since at least 1950.
Weather experts say the unusually warm Pacific Ocean is releasing vast amounts of stored heat, adding to the effects of human-driven climate change and raising the likelihood of unusually warm conditions across large parts of the planet.
Pacific Temperatures Could Reach Record Levels
The WMO forecast gives an overwhelming likelihood of above-average sea surface temperatures across large parts of the world's oceans during the final months of 2026.
The central and eastern tropical Pacific, where El Nino develops, is expected to see temperatures reach around 3.7°C above normal during October, November and December.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue described the phenomenon as being at "maximum power" during the winter and said planetary heating was being amplified across much of the globe.
Maue also agreed with the WMO's assessment that the current El Nino could persist through February 2027.
Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather said the Nino3.4 region had recorded an anomaly of 3.4°C above normal, exceeding previous El Nino events in the available record.
Weather expert Leon Simons described the developing event as a "super-duper El Nino".
El Nino To Disrupt Rainfall Patterns
El Nino is the warm phase of the naturally occurring El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle, a climate pattern that influences weather conditions across the world.
The phenomenon generally occurs every two to seven years and is associated with higher global temperatures and major shifts in rainfall.
Some regions can experience prolonged drought, while others may face unusually heavy rainfall and flooding.
The WMO has warned that El Nino will compound the effects of human-caused climate change, potentially making existing temperature and weather extremes more severe.
Forecast Extends Into 2027
The current El Nino is expected to remain influential into early 2027, with the WMO indicating that its effects could continue through February.
Researchers at the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab had earlier estimated that the unusually strong El Nino could contribute to as many as 4,51,000 excess deaths worldwide between June 2026 and February 2027.
The estimate highlights the potential human cost of prolonged heat and weather disruptions as the phenomenon reaches its expected peak.
