News · High impact3 sources
The super El Niño is more than a climate shock – it’s a health one, too
Nature · By Eoin McLaughlin ·
The Brief · written from 3 sources
- Grist reports that a strong El Niño has arrived in the Pacific Ocean.
- El Niño is a natural phenomenon in which a band of warm water forms every three to five years off the coast of South America and raises ocean temperatures.
- Its effects on temperature and precipitation will differ by region this fall and winter, with heavy rainfall expected in some places.
- Nature reports that food shortages and disease outbreaks are to be expected alongside the climate effects.
Why it matters
El Niño changes temperature and precipitation patterns around the world, and Nature warns that the resulting food shortages and disease outbreaks need to be addressed together.
Who’s affected
- people living in regions affected by El Niño weather
- public health and food security planners
What to do
- Prepare for heavy rainfall and extreme weather this winter, depending on where you live
- #el-nino
- #climate
- #weather
- #pacific-ocean
- #public-health
Nature, Published online: 09 November 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03628-5 Food shortages and disease outbreaks are to be expected and need to be addressed together.