Strong El Niño Raises Global Weather, Health Risks
Strong El Niño Raises Global Weather, Health Risks
Anonymous
Key Points
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The WMO said El Niño’s effects on global climate could continue well into 2027, even though the phenomenon itself is not caused by climate change; scientists expect it to intensify warming and weather extremes on an already warming planet.
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The Pacific storm threat remains active: another storm was approaching Japan, with forecasters warning that additional storms could develop in the region through November.
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Dos Rios Norte covers about 1,600 acres at the confluence of the Feather and Sacramento rivers, with Butte Creek also entering nearby; restoration is intended to turn the former rice farm into a working floodplain that stores water and provides wildlife habitat.
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The Lundberg family sold the Dos Rios Norte property to the restoration nonprofit River Partners after repeated flooding made portions of the rice fields difficult to plant; cameras on the property have recorded floodwaters rising about 20 feet.
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NOAA’s seasonal outlooks extend through December 2027, and the agency describes the developing El Niño as “very strong”; warmer Pacific waters can also affect whether U.S. precipitation falls as snow or rain and influence extreme cold spells.
A strengthening El Niño is forecast to rank among the strongest in roughly four decades, with the World Meteorological Organization warning that its effects on global climate could continue well into 2027. DW reports that this shift in Pacific winds and sea surface temperatures could intensify heat, drought, flooding and other weather extremes worldwide, posing major risks to health systems and food production in vulnerable regions.
The World Health Organization warns that heavy rainfall and disrupted health systems could increase cholera and mosquito-borne diseases, especially in communities facing poverty, displacement and limited healthcare. San Antonio Express-News reports that warmer Pacific waters are also redirecting storm systems, potentially making winter and spring conditions colder and stormier across parts of North America, while posing acute threats to agriculture and energy production in Asia, South America and the Pacific region.
Philippines Rice Farms Face Historic Drought Damage
In Agusan del Sur, Philippines, prolonged El Niño-related dryness has devastated agriculture. More than 35,000 hectares of rice land have been damaged, preventing about 21,600 farmers from planting crops. The agricultural losses are estimated at 3.5 billion pesos, prompting a provincial state-of-calamity declaration that highlights the severe impact on food security and rural livelihoods.
Wetter Conditions Expected Across North America
The United States is forecast to experience wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the Great Plains and Southwest. San Antonio Express-News reports Southern California could see above-average winter precipitation, potentially improving drought-strained water supplies. However, experts warn these conditions raise flood risks in areas where reservoirs are already near capacity, requiring careful water management and emergency preparedness.
Southern Brazil and Paraguay are expected to receive substantial rain this season. Scientists caution that a severe El Niño could later bring irregular rainfall, intense heat and reduced hydropower inflows, threatening energy supplies across the region and disrupting agriculture that relies on consistent seasonal patterns.
California Rice Farm Transformed Into Floodplain
The Dos Rios Norte project covers about 1,600 acres at the confluence of the Feather and Sacramento rivers. The Lundberg family sold the property to the restoration nonprofit River Partners after repeated flooding made portions of the rice fields difficult to plant. Cameras on the property have recorded floodwaters rising about 20 feet during major events.
This restoration effort aims to turn the former rice farm into a working floodplain that stores water during extreme flows while providing wildlife habitat. Similar projects across California's Sacramento Valley seek to give rivers more room to spread during storms, reducing downstream flood risks while supporting both agriculture and ecosystem recovery.
Global Storm Activity and Pacific Threats Persist
Another powerful storm was approaching Japan as of recent forecasts, with meteorologists warning that additional storms could develop across the Pacific region through November. DW reports that El Niño's effects on tropical storm patterns could significantly alter seasonal hurricane and cyclone activity worldwide, shifting where and when dangerous storms form.
NOAA describes the developing El Niño as "very strong," with seasonal outlooks extending through December 2027. Warmer Pacific waters can affect whether U.S. precipitation falls as snow or rain and influence extreme cold spells, making winter forecasting more complex and potentially increasing the frequency of severe weather swings.
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