Five ways El Niño is affecting the weather around the world
The ongoing El Niño phenomenon is causing significant global weather disruptions, including severe wildfires in Indonesia and increased hurricane activity in the Pacific. Experts warn that these extreme weather patterns are expected to persist until at least 2027.
Why it matters
Understanding the impacts of El Niño is critical for global disaster preparedness, public health, and climate change mitigation strategies.
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock By Sarah Keith-Lucas Lead Weather Presenter Published 36 minutes ago El Niño has been strengthening for several months now and is already having a significant impact on global weather patterns.
Countries including Indonesia, India and the United States have been experiencing droughts, floods and heatwaves in line with projections about how extreme weather events will be supercharged by the phenomenon.
The World Meteorological Agency says the record-breaking El Niño will strengthen further and persist until at least 2027.
Here are five ways its impact is already being felt around the world.
Image caption, Several regions around the world are already experiencing anticipated El Niño impacts
Indonesia, which typically trends drier and hotter in El Niño years, is battling its worst wildfire season since 2015.
This year, since January, at least 895,657 hectares of land – nearly six times the size of Greater London – have been burned.
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