El Niño returns: What does this mean for the planet?

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially confirmed the onset of the El Niño natural phenomenon. After months of rising temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, scientists are certain: the conditions for the development of the phenomenon are in place.

"We are facing a phenomenon that could surpass the record-breaking El Niño of 1997, bringing with it heat waves, floods, and droughts on a global scale," the experts warn.

Risks to the global economy and climate

  • Climate anomalies: Extreme weather events such as forest fires, tornadoes, and unusual storms are becoming increasingly likely.
  • Food crisis: The World Bank warns of a new shock in food prices, as climate change threatens agricultural production.
  • Record heat: Combined with anthropogenic warming, 2027 is being pointed to as a potential peak in temperatures to date.

According to NOAA data, there is a 63% probability that sea surface temperatures will rise by more than 2 °C above normal, which would classify the phenomenon as "very strong." Some models even predict a jump of 3 °C, which would make it the most powerful event in the history of meteorological observations.