Global climate pattern driving Pacific variability and extreme weather
Atlantic hurricane activity has remained unusually low this season, with no hurricanes forming yet. Forecasters say El Niño, Sahara dust, and high wind shear are suppressing development, while Pacific activity remains high. The season has seen record-breaking delays in hurricane formation, with experts cautioning that a single system could still cause damage.
Meteorological agencies and the UN have reported a very strong El Niño that has continued to intensify in August 2026. Forecasts show record-warm Pacific sea-surface temperatures, rising global heat and an elevated risk of droughts, floods and food insecurity that will push tens of millions more people into acute hunger this year and next.
A record summer of heat, drought and wildfires has prompted an emergency Cobra meeting and voluntary retailer suspensions of disposable-barbecue sales. Green groups have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to call the crisis 'climate change' and stop new North Sea drilling; Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has questioned net zero and urged adaptation and celebration of warmer weather.
Rains have kept Brahmaputra and other rivers above danger levels in Assam, displacing hundreds of thousands and submerging farmland. Relief camps are operating as authorities assess damage and plan payouts amid mounting health and food security concerns.
The NHS has been forced to confront ongoing summer pressures as heatwaves drive higher A&E attendances, equipment failures, and drought-related health risks. Officials say planning for summer pressures is now essential, with public awareness campaigns and infrastructure upgrades in focus.
The Sudanese conflict persists as fighting between the army and RSF continues to upheave daily life. Civilians confront displacement, blocked routes, and humanitarian struggles, while international voices call for action.
South Korea faces a brutal heatwave that has killed dozens of people, with crops across Gangwon province suffering. Affected farmers report ruined harvests as temperatures reach record highs; officials warn of ongoing heat and rising food prices ahead of Chuseok.
Prolonged heat across the continental U.S. has continued into August, with nighttime temperatures remaining unusually high. NOAA reports record-setting July temperatures and a hotter-than-average pattern linked to climate change and a strengthening El Niño. Experts warn that heat will persist and intensify, contributing to drought, fires, and health risks.
Multiple storms have triggered record rainfall across parts of South Korea, the Philippines and China, causing evacuations, power outages and injuries. Geoje and nearby areas have seen rescues and ongoing emergency responses as the deluge continues.
Champagne’s harvest has moved earlier this year due to record heat and drought, with producers starting in mid-August instead of mid-September. Grapes show higher sugar and risk to acidity; producers are adapting by earlier picking, night harvesting, and exploring irrigation research. Yields are expected to fall, but quality remains crucial as climate pressures accelerate.
Indonesia is battling widespread wildfires that have scorched tens of thousands of hectares, forcing school closures and online learning in affected provinces. Authorities are deploying cloud-seeding aircraft and firefighting efforts across six provinces with more than 107,000 hectares burned this year. The country faces a harsher dry season linked to El Niño.
Wildfires across Wales and parts of Britain have prompted emergency alerts and military assistance. Fire crews are battling multiple blazes, evacuations continue, and authorities urge the public to avoid actions that could spark fires. Prime Minister Burnham has urged serious adherence to the alert.
Record rainfall has inundated Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, forcing roughly 7,000 people to stay overnight inside Narita airport and leaving at least four people dead. Rail and road links have been cut, about 23,000–68,000 households have lost power at peak, and more than 230,000 residents have been advised to seek higher ground as rescue teams respond.
Millions of phones warn of very high wildfire risk across England and Wales. The alert urges people to avoid actions that can spark fires, with the government deploying military support and banning disposable barbecues as firefighters battle dozens of blazes.
Tropical Storm Lala has strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and has lashed Hawaii’s Big Island with heavy rain and strong winds, causing at least one death, widespread power outages and property damage. A second system, Moke, has formed south of the islands with tropical-storm‑strength winds and will bring additional heavy rain.
Since early 2026 wildfires have scorched hundreds of thousands of hectares across Indonesia, concentrating on Borneo (Kalimantan). A powerful El Niño and prolonged dry conditions have driven deep-burning peat and forest blazes that have sent hazardous haze into Malaysian Borneo and Singapore, closed schools and prompted arrests and troop, helicopter and cloud‑seeding deployments.
UK railways face unprecedented strain as heatwaves and an El Niño-driven deluge test infrastructure. Experts call for higher temperature design standards and accelerated drainage improvements to safeguard services. Across the Guardian and other outlets, authorities warn of ongoing challenges and ongoing adaptation.
Meteorological services have confirmed that summer 2026 has recorded the highest mean temperatures on record across the UK and much of western Europe, driven by five widespread heatwaves, prolonged drought and repeated 30°C+ days. Health services, farmers and transport networks have been disrupted and provisional estimates link thousands of excess deaths to the heat.
Somalia faces a deepening hunger emergency as drought, conflict and displacement collide with severe funding cuts. The World Food Programme and UNICEF warn millions of people, including nearly 1.9 million children at risk of malnutrition, will feel the impact unless funding improves. Health facilities are closing, and aid delivery is increasingly constrained as prices rise and households reduce meals.
The Panama Canal Authority has reduced daily transit capacity due to drought linked to El Niño. From September 3, capacity drops from 36 to 34 ships per day, and from September 15 it falls to 32, signaling tighter restrictions amid dry spells that threaten global shipping and water supplies.
Forecasters have confirmed a very strong El Niño that has pushed Pacific sea-surface temperatures well beyond historical thresholds and is already altering global weather. The Met Office says the event is unprecedented in modern records; governments in Central and South America have declared alerts as droughts and extreme heat are damaging crops and water supplies now and into 2027.
Wildfires across Kalimantan and Sumatra have intensified under El Niño-driven drought, pushing smoke into Malaysia and Brunei. Authorities deploy cloud-seeding, water-bombing aircraft, and ground crews as hotspots rise and air quality deteriorates, threatening health and livelihoods.
The latest data show global sea temperatures have reached record highs in August 2026 as El Ni 0o intensifies, driven by natural variability and long-term warming. Forecasts indicate the warmth will continue into 2027, with wide-ranging impacts on weather, seas and economies. Governments warn of increased risks to vulnerable communities and fisheries.
The storm Karina has intensified in the Pacific, with NHC reporting high winds. Swells are creating dangerous surf along parts of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. Forecasts indicate fluctuations in strength as it moves away from land.
Puerto Rico faces severe drought with over a third of the island in extreme conditions and 30% in severe drought. San Juan has seen record drought and heat; authorities have activated water-rationing programs, while the U.S. Virgin Islands have declared a drought disaster. Farmers report losses as hydroponics and soil crops wither, and infrastructure struggles compound the crisis.
Japan faces continued extreme rainfall in Ishikawa and Toyama as rivers overflow and evacuations continue. Weather warnings remain at Level 5 with hundreds of thousands urged to shelter; power outages and landslides are reported amid rising rivers and flood conditions.
Multiple cities face record rain and flood risk as storms surge. New York reports its wettest extended period this summer; the UK and parts of Europe experience continued downpours amid drought in drought-stricken areas. Forecasts warn of continued disruption and potential infrastructure stress.
A trio of stories track unusual rainfall in Israel and across the region, driven by El Niño, with storms in the Philippines and Europe facing record heat. The aim is to explain how shifting climate patterns are producing abnormal weather this season.
Flash flooding has swept Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch since Saturday afternoon, forcing air and ground evacuations, destroying footbridges and damaging the Transcanyon water pipeline. Park officials have evacuated more than 60 people, recovered at least two bodies and are searching for one remaining missing person while enforcing emergency water restrictions and closing overnight lodging.
A set of recent reports shows farmers adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather through drought-tolerant crops, smarter irrigation, and climate-smart farming. From Wales and Scotland to Africa and East Africa, communities are expanding local cultivation, improving soil health, and building resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
The UK faces mounting pressure over climate action as heatwaves and drought reshape policy debates. The new PM has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting, promising measures to protect communities, farmers and public services while opposition argues for stronger cross-party action and clearer long-term plans.
Zambia’s president has inaugurated a new term amid ongoing tensions after August elections. Observers flag uneven counting and concerns over the conduct, while opposition leaders face treason charges and arrests. Calls for unity contrast with reports of intimidation and legal challenges.
Rains driven by El Niño have intensified at Bright Angel Creek, triggering a deadly flood near the Grand Canyon. The event follows drought and a megafire that scarred the area, with authorities warning debris flows and ongoing risk as crews assess damages.
El Niño has strengthened toward historic levels, with NOAA and other forecasters projecting a 75% chance of a record-breaking event in late 2026. The phenomenon is driving higher global temperatures, shifting rainfall, and fueling droughts and floods across regions. Governments warn households to prepare for potential disruptions and to stock essentials.
The Black Sea has become the world's most dangerous route for commercial shipping as July saw more crew deaths and attacks on 35 vessels, intensifying a broader conflict involving Ukraine, Russia, and allied states. Attacks stretch from Ukrainian ports to global grain markets, prompting warnings from maritime authorities.
The AfD has surged in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening to win an outright majority in the state election. CDU trails and coalition dynamics loom as parties weigh their options in the wake of a results shock that could reshape Germany’s political landscape.
Climate patterns have intensified this year, driving heatwaves, droughts and floods across multiple regions. Governments are mobilising finance, strengthening resilience, and adjusting policies as temperatures and rainfall shift. Aid budgets face pressure while activists warn of rising humanitarian needs.
Nigeria’s political and religious leaders are urged to promote peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. Tinubu-backed church leaders call for unity and restraint while condemning violence and incitement; opposition and security concerns are highlighted in ongoing unreleased tensions.
Conservationists report encouraging signs of seahorse and other marine life returning at Studland Bay, Dorset, but shifting weather patterns threaten seagrass and habitat recovery. The Studland Bay Marine Partnership and eco moorings aim to protect the seabed as divers monitor populations under strict licensing. Volunteers describe sightings as optimistic, though long-term trends remain uncertain.
Independent and Reuters reports show UK food inflation remains elevated amid geopolitical disruption, drought and energy costs. Forecasts wait on official data; producers urge relief to ease rising bills for households.
Multiple fires across Kalimantan have sustained thick haze, reducing visibility and straining firefighting efforts. Authorities report a drop in high-confidence hot spots, but smoke drifts toward the Philippines and Malaysia as regional air quality remains under threat.
Labour and Conservative voices clash over funding defence while ensuring social security. The PM has set a long-term NATO target of 3.5% by 2035, with a 3% aim by 2030; ministers say welfare cuts are not the answer and pledge to reduce the welfare bill without harming vulnerable groups. The debate continues at PMQs.
Copernicus confirms August 2026 tied for hottest month on record, with Western Europe enjoying its warmest summer. Global oceans reach new highs as El Niño intensifies. Scientists warn that emissions continue to drive extreme conditions and urge rapid action.
Japan has deployed 300 crew members aboard the landing ship JS Kunisaki with three CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Kalimantan, Indonesia. The operation marks the first overseas firefighting mission by the JSDF, aiming to reach areas inaccessible to ground teams amid worsening fires driven by El Niño and a prolonged dry season. The effort complements regional and international firefighting support as Indonesia battles recent air pollution and health impacts.
El Niño is strengthening, with forecasts predicting historic intensity. Reports show drought in Central America’s Dry Corridor and a UK weather shift toward wetter, stormier conditions. Scientists warn impacts will extend into 2027 as temperatures rise globally and rainfall patterns shift.
A summer of record heat has disrupted schools and workplaces, with unions and researchers calling for safer conditions and investment in cooling. Schools have endured closures and high temperatures, while unions push for legal temperature limits and infrastructure upgrades to withstand climate extremes.
The UN and aid agencies warn that Sudan’s humanitarian response could collapse within weeks as funding dries up, despite ongoing operations that reach millions. WFP and IOM officials say the scale of hunger and displacement is worsening while resources dwindle, threatening vital shelter, food and medical aid.
Global temperatures have surged to new highs, with August marking the hottest month on record and heatwaves driving wildfires in Europe and the US. Scientists warn that a strong El Niño, coupled with ongoing emissions, will push temperatures higher in coming months.