UN warns El Niño could be strongest in 40 years, surpassing 2024 record

The UN climate agency projects this year's El Niño could exceed the 2024 event, the strongest on record, signaling potentially severe global weather disruptions. The forecast is preliminary and based on current model runs, with uncertainty over final intensity. If realized, it would amplify drought, flood, and heat risks across multiple regions, with significant implications for agriculture, energy demand, and disaster response.