El Niño Is Back. And Worse Than Ever. | New York Times Podcasts

The Gist

The current El Niño event is the strongest and most severe on record, causing unprecedented weather disruptions and food shortages across multiple continents. Scientists warn that global climate change is permanently intensifying the frequency and magnitude of these extreme weather patterns.

Quick Overview

Global climate reporter Chico Harlan joins The New York Times to analyze the historic severity of the ongoing El Niño event, explaining its mechanics, historical context, and devastating worldwide impacts. El Niño originates in the tropical Pacific when warm water accumulates and alters global atmospheric conditions, disrupting weather patterns across continents. The current event has arrived unusually early and strong, outstripping historical records from 1997, 1998, 2015, and 2023, and driving severe global food shortages and economic strain.

Key Points: The 2026 El Niño event is shaping up to be the strongest and most severe meteorological wrecking ball on record. El Niño originates from natural climate shifts in the tropical Pacific Ocean where warm water accumulates and alters global atmospheric patterns. During a typical year, winds push warm water toward Asia and draw up cold water from the deep, but an El Niño year reverses this cycle and traps heat on the South American side. Historical El Niño events have triggered devastating famines, such as the 1877 event that killed an estimated 50 million people, accounting for three to four percent of the global population. The United Nations World Food Programme predicts that an extra 50 million people will face severe food shortages due to the disruptions caused by the current El Niño. Countries like Panama have seen major disruptions to rainfall and lake levels, raising concerns about the viability of the Panama Canal. Global climate change is directly amplifying the impacts of El Niño by raising baseline temperatures and intensifying moisture in the atmosphere, making droughts and floods much faster and more severe.