El Niño expected to reach four-decade peak, UN cautions

What we know
- The World Meteorological Organization warned Thursday that El Niño could become the strongest in four decades. Intensification is likely over coming months, with conditions expected to extend into February, prompting UN leadership to declare the world faces heightened extreme weather risk.
- Typhoon Saudel made its third landfall on Fujian's coast Thursday, triggering severe flooding that collapsed a three-storey brick building and forcing more than 83,000 evacuations. This marks China's seventh typhoon this year, with Yuhuan in Zhejiang struck for the third time in under two months—a pattern the country's Meteorological Administration deemed extremely rare.
- According to the UN, this El Niño has the potential to match the most intense episodes in the four decades of available data. Exceptionally warm tropical Pacific waters are driving the phenomenon to unusual intensity.
Updates
Newest first- Key moment
Typhoon Saudel made its third landfall on Fujian's coast Thursday, triggering severe flooding that collapsed a three-storey brick building and forcing more than 83,000 evacuations. This marks China's seventh typhoon this year, with Yuhuan in Zhejiang struck for the third time in under two months—a pattern the country's Meteorological Administration deemed extremely rare.
- Key moment
Typhoon Saudel brings severe flooding to China's coastal provinces
Typhoon Saudel made its third landfall on Fujian's coast Thursday, triggering severe flooding that collapsed a three-storey brick building and forcing more than 83,000 evacuations. This marks China's seventh typhoon this year, with Yuhuan in Zhejiang struck for the third time in under two months—a pattern the country's Meteorological Administration deemed extremely rare.

Archive photo · Judgefloro · CC0 1.0 - Key moment
The World Meteorological Organization warned Thursday that El Niño could become the strongest in four decades. Intensification is likely over coming months, with conditions expected to extend into February, prompting UN leadership to declare the world faces heightened extreme weather risk.
According to the UN, this El Niño has the potential to match the most intense episodes in the four decades of available data. Exceptionally warm tropical Pacific waters are driving the phenomenon to unusual intensity.
UN warns current El Niño may rival strongest on record
According to the UN, this El Niño has the potential to match the most intense episodes in the four decades of available data. Exceptionally warm tropical Pacific waters are driving the phenomenon to unusual intensity.

Archive photo · Elmschrat Coaching38 · CC BY-SA 3.0