When you open WHO’S heat and health webpage, it states that - “Heatstroke is a medical emergency with a high case fatality rate.” As of May 2026, the average temperature in India ranges from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. This way is more than what the human body was built for.
El Niño is an annual phenomenon caused by the warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean.
In the usual summer, the Pacific Ocean warms up, and winds push the warm water towards India (specifically Asia). This leads to humidity, heat, and rain on the Indian subcontinent. The basic logic of this lies in the concept of the water cycle—more heat, more evaporation, lighter water, more precipitation.
However, when El Niño strikes, the wind reverses its direction and warm water moves towards the other side, South America. This leads to excess heat in India with a less rainy or drier season.
The average temperature raised by El Niño was 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius. However, due to global warming, deforestation, and reduced green cover, we already live in a heated environment. Thus, El Niño adds to this and makes it worse.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is consistently warning us that this average temperature range might exceed 2 degrees Celsius, and this will be called “Super El Niño.”
The weather will be harsh with extreme heatwaves. Agriculture will be affected by less rain and more dry spells. With such extreme heat, there are chances of a reduction in groundwater level, pointing towards a water shortage.
Banda, a town in UP, recently reported 47 degrees Celsius. Such a situation is a red flag to India’s climate and a green flag to Super El Niño, expected in mid-2026.
As humans, survival is going to be difficult with each passing day. What are you doing to fight such extreme heat waves?
MBH/AB