Effects of Record-Breaking El Niño Are Happening on 3 Continents

The recurring climate phenomenon is expected to peak later this year, but it is already causing dry spells and crop failures on three continents.

The top 3

  1. Current El Niño Poised to Break Records: The current El Niño is rapidly intensifying, with NOAA forecasting a 69% chance of a historic event exceeding +2.5°C in the Niño 3.4 region during October-December 2026, potentially surpassing all previous events since 1950.
  2. 1877-78 El Niño: Deadliest in History: The 1877-1878 El Niño event is considered the strongest on record and was arguably the worst environmental disaster for humanity, leading to a global famine that killed over 50 million people across India, China, Brazil, and Africa.
  3. 1997-98 & 2015-16: Recent 'Super' El Niños: The 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 El Niño events were both classified as 'very strong' or 'super' El Niños, with the 2015-16 event peaking at 2.75°C above normal SSTs in the Niño 3.4 region.

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