UN Warns of Supersized El Niño as Heat Records Loom

UN officials warn the current El Niño could be the largest in about 1,000 years, likely driving 2027 toward record heat as global warming amplifies its impacts—from worsening wildfires and droughts to more intense floods—and the World Food Programme says up to 50 million people could face acute hunger. Ocean temperatures near the Niño core are already about 2.6°C above the 30-year average and are forecast to rise toward roughly 4°C in November, with the WMO calling it a 'very strong' event that could spill into 2027. The crisis underscores the urgency of cutting emissions and boosting resilience.