UN warns El Niño could bring extreme weather through 2027

The UN has warned the world has entered a "danger zone of extreme weather" as El Niño intensifies, potentially becoming the strongest in at least 70 years and lasting until February 2027. Sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific have risen more than 2°C above average, with forecasts suggesting monthly temperatures could reach nearly 4°C above normal. The phenomenon will cause droughts and wildfires in some regions, while intensifying typhoons, floods, and landslides elsewhere. Southeast Asia, Central America, and northern South America face reduced rainfall, with Indonesia already battling fires across 107,000 hectares. China expects seven typhoons this year, while parts of East Africa, southern Brazil, and the southern US face increased flood risks.