El Niño Expected to Bring Severe Storms to Middle East in 2026-2027 Winter

Meteorologists are anticipating a dramatic shift in weather patterns, with global climate models predicting a severe and precipitation-heavy winter for the 2026-2027 season, largely attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. This global climate event is expected to alter major air currents, significantly intensifying storm activity across the Middle East and leading to wetter-than-average conditions in October, November, and December.

In preparation, the Israeli Meteorological Service has released its official list of names for extreme storms and systems anticipated to affect the region. This naming convention, established in 2021 as part of a regional collaboration between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus known as the "Eastern Mediterranean Group," aims to assign names to complex weather systems. The full list comprises 25 names, with eight designated as Israeli.

The first Israeli-named storm, "Bar," is slated to be the second system of the season, arriving before the end of 2026, following "Argus." Other Israeli names on the list include "Eitan" (event number 5) and "Hadar" (event number 8).

This year introduces a diversification in naming, moving beyond solely Jewish names to reflect Israel's diverse population. Alongside names like "Kdam," "Tamar," and "Zohar," the list now includes "Nadia" and "Wassim." However, the likelihood of a "Wassim" storm is considered low, as it is ranked 22nd on the list, and typically fewer than ten major events occur annually.

Following a less eventful 2025-2026 winter, forecasters are optimistic that El Niño and its associated systems will bring a significant return of heavy rainfall to the region.