Global temperatures are on track to soar to unprecedented levels over the next several years, according to a stark warning from top international weather agencies.

Citing a combination of human-caused climate change and naturally occurring El Niño patterns, meteorologists are sounding the alarm that extreme heat is likely to persist, intensify, and become increasingly deadly across many parts of the world.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other leading scientific institutions have projected that global average temperatures will likely exceed the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold in at least one of the next five years.

This would mark the hottest period in recorded history, driven by greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by short-term climate events like El Niño.

“The coming years will very likely be the warmest we’ve ever experienced,” warned WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. “We are not only breaking records — we are seeing climate extremes that are impacting lives, economies, and ecosystems globally.”

The Associated Press reports that the WMO’s forecast for 2025 and beyond includes a 66% chance that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will breach the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

Although a single year above this level does not constitute a permanent violation of the agreement, it signals how close the planet is to long-term, irreversible climate shifts.

Major urban centers around the globe are bracing for an increase in “killer heat” — extreme heat events that significantly raise the risk of illness and death, especially for vulnerable populations.

Prolonged heat waves have already devastated regions like South Asia, Europe, and parts of the United States, where infrastructure and health systems have struggled to cope.

The AP also notes that these heatwaves are not only dangerous but also deeply inequitable, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and developing nations with limited access to air conditioning, clean water, or emergency medical care.

Public health officials and climate scientists are urging governments to step up heat preparedness measures, including early warning systems, cooling centers, and urban planning that mitigates heat retention in cities.

Meanwhile, environmental activists are calling for rapid reductions in fossil fuel use and large-scale investment in renewable energy.

As the planet barrels toward a hotter future, the consensus from scientists and global weather agencies is clear: the time for drastic, coordinated climate action is now — or the world will continue to face deadly consequences.