GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – World Meteorological Organization has issued a warning to nations to bolster health preparedness amid the escalating strength of El Niño worldwide. The climate phenomenon is forecasted to reach a very strong phase by the end of 2026. WMO highlighted major hazards including extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and declining air quality. The alert also points to potential impacts on healthcare systems as shifting rainfall and temperature patterns threaten communities across various regions.
According to forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres, there is nearly a 100% chance that El Niño will continue into February 2027. Persistent warm waters in the tropical Pacific are fueling the event’s growth. WMO anticipates the peak of El Niño to occur toward late 2026, with climate repercussions extending into 2027. The organization notes that powerful El Niño episodes can cause significant alterations in global rainfall and temperature trends, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of WMO, emphasized the health risks during an urban heat resilience event in New York this week. She called on governments, health agencies, and community groups to work more closely with meteorological services. Urban areas are especially vulnerable to heat because infrastructure such as buildings and roads absorb and slowly release heat during nighttime. Elderly populations, children, outdoor laborers, and individuals with chronic health issues face heightened risks during extended high-temperature periods.
Health organizations ramp up El Niño readiness efforts
On September 5, the World Health Organization released a 63-page Global Public Health Situation Analysis focusing on El Niño. This report supports countries and regions in risk evaluation, preparedness, and early intervention for vulnerable groups. WHO also emphasizes the importance of health-system resilience as climate conditions evolve across affected areas. By utilizing seasonal forecasts, authorities can identify critical periods and locations where heat, rainfall variability, and associated health threats demand increased monitoring.
WMO and WHO agree that rising temperatures and altered rainfall can heighten the conditions that facilitate mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. Additionally, cholera and malnutrition are among the major concerns in drought- and flood-affected zones. Currently, over 150 million individuals are experiencing acute food insecurity globally, intensifying the challenges faced by regions impacted by climate-induced disruptions to food production and livelihoods.
Converging threats of heat, illness, and food insecurity
As El Niño approaches its late-2026 peak, regions such as southern Africa, South America, and Australia will enter their hottest seasons. WMO has expressed concern that this overlap could lead to increased droughts, wildfires, smoke, and deteriorating air quality. Exposure to extreme heat can worsen cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and mental health conditions. The spread of wildfire smoke and high levels of air pollution pose additional respiratory hazards, while extended heat periods may hinder recovery for residents in poorly ventilated or densely populated urban areas.
In response, WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services tailored for health sectors and to improve coordination between meteorological and public health authorities. These efforts aim to provide forecasts in formats that enable timely decisions by health agencies and emergency planners. The latest WHO assessment underscores the need for enhanced disease surveillance and rapid response strategies as El Niño influences temperature and rainfall patterns. Both organizations have prioritized early warning systems, preparedness, and integrated climate-health communication as central elements of their response to the intensifying 2026 El Niño event.