"El Niño" threatens the world: "What we will see in 2027 has never happened in our history"

The cyclical climate phenomenon "El Niño," which disrupts familiar weather patterns and spikes temperatures globally, is already causing severe droughts and dramatic damage to crops on three continents, even though it is expected to reach its peak intensity only in December.

According to a report by the "New York Times," this is an exceptionally unusual event that is already leaving a destructive mark across the globe. Vast areas of Panama have not experienced significant rainfall since early May, the fertile highlands of Ethiopia are suffering from one of the most extreme heat and drought waves in four decades, and India recorded its fifth driest June since modern rainfall records began in 1901.

A dress rehearsal for the hot future

Experts note that the severe conditions on the ground reflect the scale of changes occurring in the Pacific Ocean, where "El Niño" is developing due to an abnormal accumulation of warm water. The current phenomenon is on track to become the strongest recorded in nearly 80 years.

While scientists debate whether human-caused climate change is increasing the likelihood of more frequent and powerful "El Niño" events, it is clear that the phenomenon intensifies the storms and droughts caused by global warming.

Zeke Hausfather, a senior climate scientist, noted in the "New York Times" report:

"What we will see in 2027 is a glimpse of what will be the new normal in 2035. We will see things that have never happened in our history."

Given the data, there is now a 40 percent chance that 2026 will surpass 2024 and be crowned the hottest year in modern history.

Danger of hunger and a blow to the economy

The consequences of ocean warming are also felt in global agriculture and supply chains. According to the UN World Food Programme, the current "El Niño" could lead to nearly 50 million more people suffering from severe hunger by the end of the year, a 20% increase. In Southeast Asia, the phenomenon has caused an especially dry summer, delaying the planting of rice and other crops in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

On the other side of the ocean, the phenomenon is disrupting crop growth in Central America, with rainfall in Guatemala dropping 85 percent below average last July. Furthermore, the ongoing drought in Panama is raising concerns regarding the continued operation of the Panama Canal. The canal authority has already tightened restrictions on the draft of ships and does not rule out imposing limits on daily passages, which could significantly increase maritime transport costs.

In East Africa, the picture is equally bleak; in Kenya, the corn crop was severely damaged as plants that usually reach about three meters barely reached half their height this year, and farmers are reporting an almost complete collapse of production compared to previous years.