El Niño has turned into 'Godzilla' — what natural disaster awaits the planet

The temperature of the Pacific Ocean has already exceeded the maxima of previous El Niño episodes, and the peak of the phenomenon is still ahead. The current El Niño is called 'Godzilla' — it has broken temperature records before its peak. According to forecasts, from June 2026 to February 2027, extreme heat could claim another 451,000 lives. WMO has begun an unprecedented mobilization of resources.

The surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean near the equator has already exceeded the maxima of all previous El Niño episodes, while the phenomenon continues to intensify. Scientists and meteorologists call it 'Godzilla' and 'super El Niño'. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has begun an unprecedented mobilization of resources ahead of extreme weather events. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the planet has entered 'uncharted waters' that are rapidly heating up. Consequences are already being felt: monsoon rains in India are below normal, and the risk of drought has increased in southern Africa. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September in anticipation of floods, landslides, and severe winter storms. According to forecasts, from June 2026 to February 2027, extreme heat could claim another 451,000 lives. A study published in August 2026 showed that current El Niño episodes are 36% more powerful than in the pre-industrial era, and scientists link this trend to human activity. The UK has pledged up to £15 million to help vulnerable countries.