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El Nino 'wrecking ball' could cause record Pacific temperature rise, UN says
On Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organization warned of an unprecedented El Niño event, predicting central Pacific temperatures will rise 3.8 degrees Celsius above normal between November and January, peaking around December.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted the event surpasses previous records of around 3 degrees Celsius, describing the weather pattern as a 'wrecking ball' that will cause floods and severe droughts worldwide.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that 50 million people could face increased hunger across Latin America, Africa, and Asia due to extreme weather impacts.
Disruptions to rainfall patterns will trigger severe drought in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa starting in November, while the WMO projects increased rainfall and flooding risks for Latin America.
While El Niño is a natural climate cycle, global warming can intensify these events; Kelvin waves have already battered Long Beach, California, in recent weeks, signaling the pattern's real-world reach.
Tom Fletcher specifically warned that this phenomenon "will open up Latin America, East and Southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific with extreme heat, droughts and floods," which could increase food insecurity for up to 50 million people worldwide.
The United Nations called for 'anticipated' measures to protect populations most exposed to the climate phenomenon, which should peak at the end of 2026.