Scientists Predict 2026 and 2027 May Set New Global Heat Records as Super El Niño Strengthens
Climate scientists are forecasting that 2026 and 2027 could become the hottest years on record, driven by a combination of human-caused global warming and a strengthening "super El Niño" event. While 2024 and 2025 have already seen record-breaking temperatures, the intensifying El Niño—a natural warming of the equatorial Pacific—is expected to release significant pent-up heat into the atmosphere. Jeffrey Shaman of Columbia University noted that the stronger the El Niño signal, the more predictable its impacts, such as droughts in Indonesia and Australia and heavier rains in Africa. However, the World Food Programme warned that this weather system could push 50 million more people into acute hunger by the end of next year, particularly in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa. While the current summer heat waves and wildfires are primarily attributed to long-term climate change, the upcoming El Niño peak is expected to provide a significant boost to global temperatures. Experts suggest that the advanced notice of this intense event allows policymakers and farmers to prepare for extreme heat, water shortages, and potential disruptions to global food supplies.