GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – Amid increasing concerns over climate impacts, the World Meteorological Organization has called on nations to bolster health measures in response to the growing threats posed by El Niño. The climate phenomenon is forecasted to reach a very strong intensity by the end of 2026, with major risks including extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and declining air quality. The warning emphasizes the potential strain on health infrastructures as shifting rainfall and temperature patterns threaten communities across various regions.
Forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres indicate nearly a 100% chance that El Niño will persist into February 2027. The tropical Pacific’s exceptionally warm waters continue to fuel the event’s intensification, with El Niño expected to peak toward the end of 2026 and climate effects extending into 2027. The organization notes that such strong events can dramatically alter global rainfall and temperature trends, raising the risk of extreme weather phenomena.
During an urban heat resilience event in New York this week, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo underscored the health dangers associated with El Niño. She called on governments, health authorities, and community groups to enhance cooperation with meteorological agencies. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable due to heat stored during the day and gradually released at night by buildings and roads. Vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and those with chronic health issues face heightened exposure during prolonged heatwaves.
Health agencies bolster readiness for El Niño impacts
On September 5, the World Health Organization released a comprehensive 63-page Global Public Health Situation Analysis focused on El Niño. This document aims to support countries and regions in conducting risk assessments, implementing preparedness strategies, and initiating early interventions for vulnerable populations. WHO is also emphasizing health-system readiness in response to shifting climate conditions across impacted areas. The report utilizes seasonal forecasts to help authorities pinpoint periods and locations where heat, altered rainfall, and related health threats require heightened surveillance.
Both WMO and WHO agree that rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can foster conditions conducive to mosquito-borne diseases. They identified malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika as key illnesses needing monitoring. Cholera and malnutrition are also major concerns, especially in drought- and flood-affected settings. Currently, more than 150 million people face severe food insecurity worldwide, adding further pressure in regions already disrupted by climate-related food production and livelihood challenges.
Converging threats of heat, disease, and food insecurity
As El Niño reaches its late-2026 peak, Southern Africa, South America, and Australia will face their hottest seasonal periods. WMO warns that this overlap heightens concerns over droughts, wildfires, smoke, and worsening air pollution. High temperatures can exacerbate cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and mental health conditions. Wildfire smoke and deteriorating air quality further threaten respiratory health, while sustained heat reduces recovery times for residents in poorly ventilated homes and dense urban areas.
WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services related to health and to strengthen connections between meteorological and public health authorities. These efforts aim to deliver forecasts in formats that enable timely decision-making by health agencies and emergency responders. WHO’s latest assessment also stresses the importance of improved disease surveillance and rapid response mechanisms as El Niño influences temperature and rainfall patterns. Both organizations have prioritized early warning systems, preparedness, and integrated climate-health information as central components of their response to the escalating 2026 El Niño event.