El Niño: the climate phenomenon in the Pacific disrupting the world
El Niño: the climate phenomenon in the Pacific disrupting the world newspress_en Tue, 09/15/2026 - 09:29 Infographics The Panama Canal has scaled back its daily ship transits from 36 to 32 as of 15 September, as declining rainfall threatens its water supply. At the same time, the Atlantic hurricane season has reached an extraordinary lull, while El Niño is strengthening across the Pacific. These…
In September 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the El Niño climate phenomenon was intensifying, with experts predicting a strong event during the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter. This shift in Pacific Ocean temperatures can lead to unpredictable weather patterns, affecting food supplies and global trade.
In South Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) anticipates below-normal rainfall during the 2026/27 agricultural season, which could jeopardize maize production and regional cereal supplies. Meanwhile, parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya are bracing for heightened rainfall and potential floods due to El Niño's impact.
The Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually quiet, with no hurricanes forming as of mid-September, but El Niño is contributing to increased vertical wind shear, a factor that typically fuels more intense hurricanes in the eastern and central Pacific. Additionally, the Danube River in Europe experienced abnormally low water levels in summer 2026, disrupting navigation, irrigation, and energy production.
While El Niño is not solely responsible for the drought, it underscores the far-reaching consequences of extreme heat and water shortages on critical economic infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
