WMO urges stronger early warning systems after January extreme weather

GENEVA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday that January 2026 was marked by frequent extreme weather events worldwide, with unusual heat, cold and heavy rainfall occurring in succession and causing significant economic, environmental, and human losses.

In a press release, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo called for improved accuracy and timeliness in weather forecasting, as well as greater investment in early warning systems, as long-term temperature increase will lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather.

According to information compiled by the WMO Coordination Mechanism from WMO Members and Centres, both the Southern and the Northern Hemispheres experienced widespread weather-related disasters during the month.

In Australia, large areas were gripped by two heatwaves accompanied by dangerous fire conditions. Data from the Bureau of Meteorology showed that the town of Ceduna in South Australia recorded a temperature of 49.5 degrees Celsius on Jan. 26, setting a local record. The combination of heat and gusty winds pushed fire danger ratings to extreme in many areas.

Chile and Argentina also faced a combination of heat, prolonged drought, and strong winds, which fueled destructive wildfires.

In the final week of January, a powerful winter storm swept across much of Canada and the United States, bringing widespread snow, sleet, and freezing rain, along with life-threatening cold and ice. The storm caused multiple fatalities, triggered massive flight cancellations, and left hundreds of thousands of households without power.

Extraordinary snowfall also hit Russia, with the Kamchatka Peninsula receiving more than two meters of snow in the first two weeks of January, following 3.7 meters in December. The two months marked one of the snowiest periods in the peninsula since the 1970s, bringing the regional capital, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, to a near standstill as snowdrifts buried cars and blocked access to buildings and infrastructure.

Across Europe, back-to-back storms brought heavy precipitation, strong winds, and high waves, disrupting travel and causing flooding in countries from Ireland and Britain to Portugal, Spain, and across the Mediterranean region.

In southeastern Africa, weeks of downpours have swollen rivers and overwhelmed key reservoirs, sending floodwaters into densely populated areas, with Mozambique the worst hit. Further heavy rainfall is expected.

Noting that extreme weather consistently ranks among the top risks in the World Economic Forum's annual Global Risks Report, Saulo said "the number of people affected by weather and climate-related disasters continues to rise, year by year," with the human toll evident on a daily basis throughout January. ■