Nearly 451,000 people could die from extreme heat linked to the current El Niño weather pattern between June 2026 and February 2027, according to a new report by the Climate Impact Lab.

The report warns that the unusually strong El Niño, combined with ongoing global warming caused by fossil fuel emissions, could produce dangerous levels of heat around the world, a CNN report stated.

Scientists project that global land temperatures could rise about 1.2 degrees Celsius above normal, resulting in 44 percent more days of extreme heat than would occur in an average year.

The Global South is expected to bear much of the burden. Nigeria is projected to record the highest number of heat-related deaths, at approximately 31,400, followed by countries including Indonesia, Sudan, India and Brazil. The United States, South and Central American countries are also among the 20 countries expected to be most affected by excess heat fatalities.

The report has not yet undergone peer review, and researchers stress that the figures are projections rather than definitive predictions. However, experts say the findings highlight the urgent need for governments to prepare for extreme heat.

Recommended measures include early heat warnings, heat-health action plans, cooling and hydration centres, stronger healthcare coverage and improved emergency response.

Researchers say early action could save lives, while warning that today’s extreme temperatures could become increasingly common as climate change intensifies.