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From record heat to floods and drought/ What awaits us if a "super" El Niño hits this year?

2026-05-12 07:40:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

From record heat to floods and drought/ What awaits us if a "super" El

Scientists warn that the world could face one of the most powerful phenomena ever recorded, increasing the risk of extreme heat waves, devastating floods and prolonged droughts in many regions of the globe from "El Niño".

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an El Niño episode is expected to develop this year, and climate models indicate that it could reach very high intensity. However, experts emphasize that predictions during the spring remain difficult to determine with precision.

American meteorologist Jeff Berardelli warns that the world could experience atmospheric phenomena never seen before in modern history.

"El Niño redistributes heat across the planet. The more heat released from the Pacific, the stronger the heat waves, floods and droughts will be," he said.

What is “El Niño”?

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This process directly affects global weather patterns, precipitation, and temperatures.

The phenomenon usually occurs every two to seven years and can last from nine to twelve months. Its counterpart, “La Niña,” brings the opposite effect, with cooler ocean temperatures.

According to experts, sea surface temperatures are rising rapidly, while large amounts of warm water are moving towards the surface of the Pacific - a typical signal of the development of "El Niño".

Why is there concern about this year?

Scientists say the warm water anomalies in the Pacific are among the largest ever recorded. Climatologist Daniel Swain says there is the potential for a "truly extraordinary" phenomenon.

"One of the key elements for creating a very strong El Niño is already happening," he said.

A strong El Niño could bring record global temperatures, as heat released from the oceans will combine with the effects of climate change caused by human activity.

Global consequences

Experts warn that summer could be much hotter than usual in some parts of the world, especially the US, while other regions could face intense rainfall and flooding.

The phenomenon could also affect the Amazon rainforest, which is already facing degradation due to fires, logging and drought.

On the other hand, El Niño could weaken the Atlantic hurricane season, bringing fewer tropical storms to the Caribbean and surrounding areas.

Climate scientist Michael Mann points out that, although El Niño temporarily affects global temperatures, the biggest concern remains the long-term warming of the planet.

"The main problem is the ongoing trend of global warming, driven by the burning of fossil fuels," he said./ CNA