The story so far
- 2026 Likely Second-Hottest Year on Record, EU Monitor Says4 sources
- COP31 Opens in Turkey as Climate Goals Face Pressure25 sources
- Super El Niño Arrives, Could Push 2026 Among Hottest YearsYou are hereLatest
Updated 3h ago · Science
Super El Niño Arrives, Could Push 2026 Among Hottest Years
2026 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record, the World Meteorological Organization said Monday. The agency cited long-term warming and a strong El Niño.
- 1.47C above the pre-industrial average from January through September 2026.
- 12 most recent years each rank among the warmest ever recorded.
- 1993 satellite records began; this summer set new sea-level highs.
- 30,000-plus excess deaths followed Europe's summer heat, drought and wildfires.
Why it matters: El Niño is expected to peak in December, so its extreme weather could extend into 2027. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo called it a risk multiplier for heatwaves, cyclones and rainstorms.
- Copernicus says 2026 will almost certainly top the Paris Agreement's 1.5C mark.
- El Niño releases stored ocean heat rather than adding new heat, the WMO says.
How 9 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
9 sources · 10 articles · 45% Left coverage
Where they split: Coverage differs on emphasis: whether El Niño or long-term human-caused warming is the main story behind 2026's heat.
Center4 sources
IBTimes5hExtreme Weather Events Are Set to Keep Climbing Next Year With More Floods, Droughts and HeatwavesJerusalem Post13hUN report: 2026 on track to be among four hottest years on record as El Niño drives warmingNewsweek7hEl Niño to Push 2026 Among Hottest Years on Record: UNUSA Today3hEl Niño is coming for your 5-day weather forecast
Left coverage, 4 sources: The left frames El Niño as a short-term amplifier of human-caused warming and focuses on what it means for people's lives and regions.
The Independent14hScientists warn that 2026 may be one of the hottest years on recordGrist14hA monstrous El Niño has arrived. Here’s what it means for where you live.Gizmodo6hScientists Link Super El Niños to Over 100,000 Extra Heat Deaths a YearTruthout3hPast 4 Years Have Been Hottest on Record, UN Meteorological Organization Finds
Right coverage, 1 sources: The right centers El Niño itself as the driver of this year's record-setting heat and extreme weather.
What’s next: COP31 climate talks run Nov. 9 to 20 in Turkey. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged faster emissions cuts and more aid for vulnerable countries.
- NOAA's December-February outlook favors a warm North and wet South in the U.S.
- How much is climate change strengthening El Niño events? Grist reports scientists are still studying it.
- How many heat deaths will this El Niño cause? Estimates cited range from 370,000 to about 450,000.
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