El Niño Is Here and Could Be the Strongest in a Century—90% Chance of Global Chaos

El Niño Is Here and Could Be the Strongest in a Century—90% Chance of Global Chaos

El Niño has officially formed in the Pacific Ocean, and scientists warn there is a 90% chance it will strengthen by November, potentially becoming the most powerful in over a century and unleashing severe drought, flooding, and extreme heat across the globe.

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The El Niño climate pattern has officially arrived, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) confirming warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures near the equator [170709]. Meteorologists warn that this event could become the strongest in over a century, bringing severe drought, widespread flooding, and dangerous heat waves to different parts of the world [169865][169112]. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says there is a 90% chance El Niño will form before November, and an 80% chance before September [166536].

El Niño is a natural climate cycle that occurs when Pacific Ocean temperatures rise above normal, disrupting global weather systems and often causing opposite extremes—dry conditions in some regions and heavy rain in others [169865][169112]. Forecasters project a potentially strong El Niño this year, which could strain water supplies, damage crops, and threaten public health [169865]. For Asia, this could mean disaster for heatwave-hit India, heavy rain for China, and damaged crops across southeast Asia [166536]. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called it an “urgent climate warning” [170709].

While the exact timing and intensity remain uncertain, scientists emphasize that early planning can reduce the worst impacts, and governments and emergency agencies are urged to prepare for possible food shortages and infrastructure damage [169865][169112]. Communities in vulnerable areas should review disaster plans and secure resources now [169865].

Sources

El Niño Threatens Global Drought, Floods, and Extreme Heat #169865El Niño May Bring Record Drought, Flooding and Heat #169112El Niño Arrives, Could Become Strongest in a Century #170709El Niño 90% likely to hit Asia by November, UN warns. #166536

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