UN issues new climate warning as El Niño looms The United Nations' weather agency has issued a stark warning that the Earth's climate is more unbalanced than at any point in recorded history. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the planet is absorbing significantly more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. This growing "energy imbalance" has pushed ocean temperatures to record levels and accelerated the melting of ice caps. Scientists warn that an upcoming El Niño event could further intensify global warming, potentially leading to new temperature records. UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the need for countries to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, calling it essential for climate, energy, and national security. The WMO highlighted that the past 11 years have been the warmest in over 150 years of records. In 2025, global average air temperatures were 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a benchmark set before widespread fossil fuel use. While a temporary cooling effect from the La Niña weather pattern reduced 2025's temperatures compared to 2024, the year still ranked among the three hottest on record. The WMO noted that the climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, with the most comprehensive evidence being the accumulation of excess heat energy in the Earth's systems. This imbalance, driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, has led to record-breaking glacier retreat and near-record low sea ice levels at both poles. Over 90% of the additional heat absorbed by the planet is stored in the oceans, which exacerbates marine ecosystem stress, intensifies storms, and contributes to rising sea levels.#un #world_meteorological_organization #celeste_saulo #antonio_guterres #john_kennedy
Melissa Retired from Hurricane Naming Lists After Devastating Impact on Jamaica The World Meteorological Organization Hurricane Committee has officially retired the name "Melissa" from future hurricane naming lists following the catastrophic destruction it caused in the Caribbean. The name will be replaced by "Molly," which will appear on the list in 2031. Melissa, which struck Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane on October 28, 2025, is now tied with Hurricane Dorian in 2018 and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic. Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica marked the most severe hurricane to hit the island, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph at the time of impact. The National Hurricane Center’s Tropical Cyclone Report confirmed that the storm’s wind speeds are now matched only by Dorian and the 1935 hurricane, setting a new benchmark for Atlantic storms. The hurricane’s devastation extended beyond Jamaica, affecting Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations. At least 95 people died across these regions, with Jamaica alone reporting 45 fatalities. The storm’s destruction was compounded by its extreme wind gusts, with a dropsonde deployed during a Hurricane Hunters mission recording a 252 mph gust inside the storm. This broke the previous record set by Typhoon Megi in 2010 for the strongest wind gust ever measured in a tropical system. The NHC report also noted that Melissa caused at least $8.8 billion in damage to Jamaica, making it the costliest hurricane to ever strike the island. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the profound impact of the storm, stating, “The risks associated with tropical cyclones are both real and increasing. It only takes one landfalling tropical cyclone to roll back years of development.#world_meteorological_organization #hurricane_melissa #jamaica #celeste_saulo #hurricane_dorian
