El Niño May Bring Record Drought, Flooding and Heat

Scientists warn that a powerful El Niño weather event could develop this year, possibly the strongest in a century. The phenomenon, which involves warming of ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific, often disrupts global weather patterns. If it arrives, the coming months could bring severe drought to some regions, heavy flooding to others, and extreme heat waves worldwide. Experts are asking whether communities can prepare for the worst impacts. The warning follows growing concerns about the potential scale of the event. While El Niño is a natural cycle, its strength this time may test infrastructure and emergency response systems across multiple continents.