Scientists warn this El Niño could hit harder than ever before as warming fuels extremes

Scientists warn the developing El Niño could worsen heatwaves, droughts, and floods globally, with its impacts amplified by human-caused climate change. Experts like Fredi Otto and Jemilah Mahmood highlight that while El Niño intensifies extreme weather, fossil fuel-driven warming remains the primary driver of increasing climate disasters." "article": "A developing El Niño is expected to influence global weather patterns this year, potentially intensifying heatwaves, droughts, and floods. While El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving warmer Pacific Ocean surface waters, its effects are now exacerbated by human-induced warming from burning fossil fuels. El Niño alters atmospheric conditions, shifting rainfall, temperatures, and storm tracks worldwide. In some regions, it increases drought and heat risks, while others face heavier rain and flooding. Scientists stress that even a moderate or strong El Niño today can cause more damage than similar past events due to the planet’s elevated baseline temperatures. Fredi Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, warned of a 'serious risk of unprecedented weather extremes' if an intense El Niño combines with ongoing climate change. She emphasized that human-induced warming has a far greater impact on extreme weather than El Niño cycles alone. Jemilah Mahmood, director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Indonesia, highlighted heatwaves as a deadly but underreported threat, citing 546,000 global heat-related deaths annually. She noted that heat kills quietly, often affecting vulnerable outdoor workers in regions already suffering from drought and high temperatures. Despite the risks, Otto stressed that reducing fossil fuel use remains the key solution to mitigating extreme weather. The current El Niño event underscores how climate change amplifies natural variability, making disaster preparedness and emissions cuts more urgent than ever.