Khaberni - The World Meteorological Organization announced on Friday that the likelihood of the "El Niño" phenomenon is increasing starting from mid-2026, which will affect temperatures and rainfall rates around the world.
The latest report from the organization points to a significant change in the tropical Pacific Ocean, indicating that water surface temperatures are rising quickly, signaling a potential return of the El Niño phenomenon between May and July 2026.
Forecasts for the next three months indicate a nearly global dominance of higher-than-usual surface temperatures, along with local fluctuations in rainfall rates, according to what the organization says based on predictions from several climate centers.
In this regard, the head of the climate prediction department at the organization, Wilfran Mofuma Okia, said: "After a period of neutral climate conditions observed at the beginning of the year, followed by the La Niña phenomenon in 2025 and 2026, we expect a likely start of the El Niño phenomenon, then an increase in its intensity in the following months."
The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by the rise in water surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
It usually occurs every two to seven years and lasts from nine to twelve months.
