New Delhi, 30 Jan (.) January 2026 will be remembered as a month of sharp weather contrasts, with extreme heat, biting cold, and devastating rainfall affecting countries across every region of the world.
From record-breaking temperatures and wildfires to crippling winter storms and deadly floods, the scale and frequency of impacts once again underlined the growing risks posed by a warming climate.
The economic, environmental, and human toll of these events has brought renewed focus on the importance of accurate forecasts and timely early warnings.
National Meteorological and Hydrological Services were on the frontline throughout the month, issuing alerts on heatwaves, fires, cold snaps, snowstorms and floods, according to a press statement issued by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The Weather agency’s coordination mechanism helped consolidate expert advice and warnings for humanitarian agencies, ensuring consistent messaging through the Common Alerting Protocol.
“It is no wonder that extreme weather consistently features as one of the top global risks,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, noting that the number of people affected by weather- and climate-related disasters continues to rise year after year. WMO recently confirmed that 2026 ranked among the three warmest years on record, a long-term trend that is fueling more frequent and intense extremes.
Extreme heat dominated headlines in the Southern Hemisphere. Large parts of Australia were hit by two heatwaves in January, with temperatures soaring well above 45°C in several regions. Ceduna, in South Australia, recorded 49.5°C on January 26, a new local record. Dangerous fire weather conditions followed, prompting authorities to issue heatwave and bushfire warnings.
In South America, deadly wildfires tore through Chile’s Biobio and Nuble regions, killing at least 21 people and forcing mass evacuations, while prolonged heat, drought and strong winds fueled fires in Argentina’s Patagonia.
At the same time, severe cold and winter storms disrupted life across the Northern Hemisphere. A weakened and distorted polar vortex allowed Arctic air to spill southwards, triggering cold snaps and heavy snowfall across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
In late January, a massive winter storm swept across Canada and the United States, causing power outages, flight cancellations, and multiple deaths. Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula experienced one of its snowiest periods since the 1970s, with snowdrifts burying infrastructure.
Heavy rainfall and flooding compounded the crisis elsewhere. Southern Africa was battered by weeks of heavy rain, with Mozambique worst affected. Floods displaced hundreds of thousands, damaged tens of thousands of homes, and heightened the risk of water-borne diseases.
A World Weather Attribution study found that climate change and La Niña combined with intensified rainfall in the region by about 40 per cent compared to preindustrial times. Deadly landslides linked to heavy rain were also reported in Indonesia and New Zealand.
As forecasts point to further risks from cold air intrusions, storms, and flooding in the weeks ahead, WMO has reiterated the urgency of preparedness. “Extreme weather does not stop at borders,” Saulo warned. “Heeding official forecasts and early warnings is critical, because timely action saves lives.”
. MBJ .