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As cities prepare for 2026’s super El Niño, some crucial blind spots can’t be ignored

<name>Bethany Tietjen, Research Fellow in Climate Policy, The Fletcher School, Tufts University</name> <foaf:homepage rdf:resource="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bethany-tietjen-1384556"/>· 21 septembre 2026

An affordable-housing crisis and a growing homeless population led Los Angeles to declared a shelter crisis during the 2015-16 El Niño. David McNew/Getty Images This year’s El Niño has the potential to be one of the strongest in living memory , and the evidence is showing up around the world. The U…

Résumé

What is El Niño

El Niño is a natural climate pattern that occurs every few years when temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean rise, disrupting normal weather patterns worldwide.

During El Niño, typically wet regions may become unusually dry, while dry areas can experience extreme rainfall and flooding.

Global average temperatures also tend to increase, leading to dangerous heat both indoors and outdoors.

The current El Niño, expected to peak in late 2026 and early 2027, is predicted to be one of the strongest in living memory.

Early signs include record-breaking heat in the U.S., drought affecting shipping in the Panama Canal, an exceptionally busy hurricane season in the Pacific, and unusually quiet conditions in the Atlantic.

These shifts can cause extreme heat, destructive storms, and flooding in many parts of the planet through early 2027.

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