This summer has been a furnace for much of the Northern Hemisphere. Europe and the US have seen their hottest months since records began, while South Korea hit its all-time high.

But as temperatures start to cool (slightly), climate scientists are already warning that 2027 could be even hotter. The latest El Niño event is expected to impact global temperatures more intensely next year than this one.

The warming trend caused by burning fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gases means heatwaves are becoming both more frequent and intense. Europe, in particular, is heating up faster than anywhere else on the planet, making it a hotbed for extreme weather events.

Experts predict that El Niño could push temperatures to record levels, with some forecasts suggesting it might be one of the strongest on record. While this year’s heat has been brutal, 2027 could see even higher temperatures if we aren’t prepared.