Driven by global warming and a strengthening El Niño, 2026—currently the third-warmest year on record—has a growing chance of eclipsing 2024 as the hottest year ever recorded. While climate scientists debate whether 2026 will officially break the all-time record, experts broadly agree that 2027 is almost guaranteed to set a new global heat record. Fueled by a potent combination of human-caused climate change and a rapidly strengthening El Niño, scientists warn that 2026 could ultimately surpass 2024 as the hottest year in modern history. What we know:The planet is experiencing extreme weather conditions, marked by wildfires across North America and Europe, deadly urban heat waves, and record-high ocean temperatures. Projections remain in flux as agencies update their probability models to account for the rapid intensification of the forecast El Niño.