GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – The World Meteorological Organization has called on nations to brace for increasing health hazards as El Niño gains strength worldwide. Projected to reach very strong intensity by the end of 2026, this climate phenomenon presents major dangers including extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and declining air quality, according to WMO. The warning underscores the potential strain on health infrastructure as shifts in rainfall and temperature impact communities across multiple regions.
Forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres suggest nearly a 100% chance that El Niño will persist until February 2027. The persistent warm waters across the tropical Pacific continue fueling the event’s escalation. WMO anticipates the peak of El Niño toward late 2026, with its climate effects extending into 2027. The organization notes that strong El Niño episodes can cause significant alterations in global rainfall and temperature distributions, raising the risk of extreme weather events.
During an urban heat resilience forum in New York this week, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the threat to public health. She urged governments, health authorities, and community groups to enhance collaboration with meteorological agencies. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to heat because structures like buildings and roads absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. Populations such as the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and those with chronic illnesses face heightened risks during extended periods of elevated temperatures.
Global health agencies ramp up El Niño preparedness efforts
On September 5, the World Health Organization issued a comprehensive 63-page Global Public Health Situation Analysis on El Niño. This document supports nations and regions in assessing risks, planning preparedness strategies, and initiating early interventions for vulnerable groups. WHO also emphasizes health system readiness, as shifting climate conditions impact affected areas. Using seasonal forecasts, the analysis assists authorities in identifying periods and locations where increased heat, rainfall variation, and related health threats demand heightened surveillance.
According to WMO and WHO, rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns can foster conditions conducive to mosquito-borne illnesses. Diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika are among those requiring close monitoring. Cholera and malnutrition are also major concerns, especially in drought- and flood-affected regions. Currently, over 150 million people face acute food insecurity globally, intensifying pressures in areas experiencing climate-related disruptions to food production and livelihoods.
Converging risks of heat, disease, and food insecurity
As El Niño reaches its late-2026 peak, regions such as southern Africa, South America, and Australia are expected to enter their hottest seasonal periods. WMO has expressed concern that this overlap could lead to drought, wildfires, smoke, and worsening air pollution. Exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate health issues related to cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and mental conditions. Additionally, wildfire smoke and poor air quality heighten respiratory risks, while prolonged heat periods can impede recovery in densely built urban areas and poorly ventilated homes.
WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services for health and to strengthen connections between meteorological and public health authorities. The goal is to produce forecasts in formats that enable health agencies and emergency planners to make timely decisions. The latest WHO assessment also stresses the importance of improved disease surveillance and rapid response capabilities as El Niño alters temperature and rainfall patterns. Both organizations prioritize early warning systems, preparedness efforts, and coordinated climate-health information as central to their strategy against the worsening impacts of the 2026 El Niño.