India, April 17 -- A high-stakes convergence of atmospheric and oceanic drivers is expected to bring an exceptionally hot summer this year. The formidable weather phenomenon known as El Niño, characterised by the periodic warming of the sea surface over the Pacific and Indian Oceans, will set record-high temperatures in 2026 by mid-June in what is being seen as a major atmospheric overhaul. 

According to multiple agencies, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the weather conditions are aligning for a sobering outlook as the transition to a new El Niño phase in June will drive maximum...