The World Meteorological Organization said El Niño is expected to intensify into a strong event during August–October 2026, with seasonal‑average sea‑surface temperature anomalies projected to exceed 2.9 °C in key Pacific monitoring regions. El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring climate pattern that influences global temperatures and precipitation. These events typically develop between March and June, peak between November and February, and affect global temperatures the year after onset. WMO classifies ENSO events as weak, moderate, strong or very strong, and the term “super El Niño” is not used in official products. Multi‑model ensemble forecasts from leading global climate centres show a continued strengthening of El Niño. In addition, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole is forecast, which can amplify regional climate impacts, including drought, flooding and wildfire risk in the Indian Ocean basin. Warmer-than-average sea‑surface temperatures are also expected in the tropical Atlantic. The WMO Global Seasonal Climate Update, released as part of its regular monitoring, complements the forthcoming full El Niño/La Niña Update scheduled for early September. WMO is intensifying coordination of climate information services and early‑warning support for governments, humanitarian agencies and climate‑sensitive sectors such as agriculture and health. A briefing for UN agencies and humanitarian partners on 24 June 2026 included regional outlooks, and a series of webinars and technical exchanges are being organized to strengthen preparedness. The forecast offers a timely opportunity for decision‑makers to anticipate risks and implement mitigation measures before impacts materialize. The actions taken now will influence the severity of the weather events that follow.