GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – Countries are being urged by the World Meteorological Organization to brace for increasing health hazards as El Niño intensifies globally. The climate phenomenon is projected to reach a very strong level by the end of 2026, with major threats including extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and worsening air quality. The warning also emphasizes the potential impact on health systems due to shifting rainfall and temperature patterns affecting communities across various regions.
Forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres indicate nearly a 100% chance that El Niño will continue through February 2027. The event’s strengthening is supported by persistently warm waters in the tropical Pacific. WMO anticipates El Niño will reach its peak toward late 2026, with climate effects extending into 2027. The organization notes that strong El Niño events can cause significant alterations in global rainfall and temperature trends, increasing the risk of extreme weather events.
During an urban heat resilience event in New York this week, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo underscored the health risks linked to El Niño. She urged governments, health authorities, and community groups to enhance cooperation with meteorological agencies. Cities are especially vulnerable to heat due to the heat-retaining properties of buildings and roads, which release stored heat gradually at night. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and individuals with chronic illnesses are at heightened risk during prolonged high-temperature periods.
El Niño Preparedness Gains Momentum Among Health Agencies
On September 5, the World Health Organization released a comprehensive 63-page Global Public Health Situation Analysis on El Niño. This document aims to assist countries and regions in risk assessment, preparedness planning, and early intervention for vulnerable populations. WHO emphasizes the importance of health-system readiness as climate conditions evolve across affected areas. Seasonal forecasts included in the analysis enable authorities to identify critical periods and locations where heat, rainfall variations, and related health threats require increased surveillance.
According to both WMO and WHO, rising temperatures combined with changing rainfall patterns can foster conditions favorable for mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. Concerns are also raised about cholera and malnutrition, especially in drought and flood-affected regions. Currently, over 150 million people worldwide are experiencing acute food insecurity, further strained by climate-related disruptions to food production and livelihoods.
Converging Risks of Heat, Disease, and Food Security in a Warming World
As El Niño peaks in late 2026, regions including Southern Africa, South America, and Australia are about to experience their hottest seasons. WMO highlights that this overlap raises concerns about droughts, wildfires, smoke, and deteriorating air quality. Elevated heat levels can worsen conditions related to cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and mental health. Additionally, wildfire smoke and pollution levels increase respiratory risks, while persistent heat can hinder recovery for residents in densely populated urban areas and poorly ventilated homes.
The WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services for health and to improve coordination between meteorological and public health authorities. The initiative seeks to provide forecasts in formats that enable health agencies and emergency planners to make timely decisions. The latest WHO assessment stresses the importance of strengthened disease surveillance and rapid response strategies as shifts in temperature and rainfall patterns driven by El Niño occur. Both the WMO and WHO have prioritized early warning systems, preparedness, and integrated climate-health data as central components of their response to the escalating 2026 El Niño event.