The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific Ocean are expected to strengthen in the coming months and persist until February 2027. The agency cautioned that this prolonged phase could significantly affect rainfall and temperature patterns, increasing the risks of floods, droughts, and extreme heat across several regions, including India. In a statement issued Thursday, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that while “El Niño” means “the child” in Spanish, its impact can be severe, disrupting communities and economies worldwide. “We are already witnessing devastation from droughts and floods, and as El Niño intensifies, these impacts are likely to worsen,” she said. The warning comes shortly after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that El Niño conditions could continue until early next year. IMD reported that August 2026 recorded 16 percent below-average rainfall nationwide, making it the driest August since 1901. The department also noted that the month was the hottest August in more than a century, with El Niño contributing to the rise in temperatures. For September, IMD forecasts rainfall at less than 91 percent of the long-period average (LPA), which is calculated over 30–50 years. Based on data from 1971 to 2020, the LPA for September is approximately 167.9 millimeters. The agency has not yet issued predictions for the post-monsoon season, but experts warn that warmer winters are likely, further aggravating India’s climate challenges. Climate think tank Climate Trends, based in Delhi, recently highlighted that winters in northern India are becoming shorter, with rising temperatures in February and March. Their study found that February has seen the sharpest increase, with average temperatures rising by 0.69°C per decade. March and April have also recorded significant increases of 0.58°C and 0.66°C per decade, respectively. This warming trend poses a serious threat to rabi crops such as wheat, which are vulnerable to terminal heat stress during grain formation and ripening. The study noted that these temperature changes are already affecting production in key wheat-growing regions.