The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning regarding the imminent emergence of a potentially powerful El Niño, forecasting an 80% chance of its development between June and August, which may extend into November. This year’s El Niño is characterized by significant increases in sea surface temperatures in the central-eastern Pacific, with some areas exceeding 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) above average. Climatologists, including Francisco Aquino from Brazil’s Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, caution that the risks associated with this El Niño could parallel those of the catastrophic 1877 event, which resulted in widespread droughts and a global famine that claimed over 50 million lives. The WMO anticipates that this El Niño could lead to increased rainfall in southern regions of the Americas and the southern United States, while simultaneously heightening drought risks in Central America and parts of Asia. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo urges preparedness for extreme weather conditions, highlighting that the heat generated by El Niño poses severe risks, including heat-related illnesses and pressure on food and water systems.