Climate scientists warn extreme weather events likely this year

Climate scientists warn 2026 could be the second warmest year ever recorded, with extreme weather events surpassing past records. Sea surface temperatures are nearing all-time highs, while wildfires have already burned over 150 million hectares in the first four months—double the 2024 total. A strong El Niño event in the tropical Pacific will further intensify heat, drought, and wildfire risks globally, including in the Amazon and Southeast Asia. The World Weather Attribution group states these conditions will worsen until global fossil fuel use is drastically cut. Dr. Daniel Swain of the California Institute for Water Resources and UNCAR notes that El Niño alone disrupts precipitation patterns, but global warming at 1.5°C amplifies these effects. The combination could lead to unprecedented floods, droughts, and wildfires by late 2026 or 2027. Excess heat, often overlooked, kills 546,000 people annually, with underreporting in low-income regions, according to Dr. Jemilah Mahmood of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. Wildfire smoke—containing PM2.5 particles—is 10 times more harmful than traffic emissions, worsening respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A 2024 Lancet study linked 1.53 million annual deaths to wildfire air pollution, far exceeding prior estimates. In Australia’s 2019 fires, smoke killed 417 people beyond direct fire fatalities, while Los Angeles’ January 2025 fires saw a 50% spike in smoke-related deaths. Mahmood warns governments have softened climate commitments, ignoring worsening global imbalances. The World Meteorological Organization confirms the planet is now more out of balance than ever recorded. Scientists emphasize that without urgent action, extreme weather will continue to escalate, threatening ecosystems and human health. The risks are not just regional but global, requiring immediate policy shifts to reduce emissions and mitigate impacts.