Global food supply chains are under more pressure than ever before. The war with Iran has triggered an international crisis in fertilizers, oil and diesel prices have skyrocketed, while farmers in the US have been struggling for years with a historic drought. Now, a "Super El Niño" has made its appearance and, according to Fox News, it may evolve into the strongest ever recorded. In fact, scientists warn that due to the influence of a giant 9,000-mile "marine heatwave" developing in the North Pacific, the phenomenon could turn into a true "Godzilla El Niño." The next 12 months may bring developments that most people could never imagine. And the extreme weather phenomena have already begun.
NASA and NOAA confirm: El Niño is already here
Earlier this month, NOAA officially announced the start of El Niño, and now NASA confirms that the phenomenon is in full swing. According to NASA, satellite measurements of sea levels in the Pacific Ocean show a significant rise in the water surface in equatorial regions. As the American space agency explains: "When ocean water warms, it expands and sea levels rise. Temperatures above normal levels in Pacific regions are directly linked to the El Niño phenomenon." Every El Niño in human history has been accompanied by higher temperatures. But scientists estimate that this specific Super El Niño will cause much more extreme conditions.
Europe is burning – A heat dome covers the continent
Europe is already experiencing one of the most intense heatwaves of the last few decades. Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius are being recorded in many countries, while extreme heat warnings have been issued in 26 states, from Ireland to Greece. Meteorologists attribute the situation to a powerful "heat dome" that has settled over the continent for the second time in two months. It is a persistent high-pressure system that acts like a lid, trapping hot air masses and pushing them toward the ground.
France: Shocking temperatures and heatwave deaths
The situation in France is particularly dramatic. In the city of Bordeaux, the temperature was expected to exceed 42 degrees Celsius (107.6°F), levels unprecedented for the region. At least three people have lost their lives due to complications linked to the extreme heat, while nearly 2,700 schools were forced to close or modify their schedules. The French Minister of Health, Stephanie Rist, stated: "We are entering a period of several days with extremely high temperatures. We do not yet know when the de-escalation will begin."
The Netherlands: 188,000 lightning strikes in a few hours
Extreme temperatures are accompanied by powerful storms. In the Netherlands, more than 188,000 electrical discharges were recorded, a number that the country's Royal Meteorological Institute (KNMI) described as unprecedented. The storms caused deaths and widespread fires. A KNMI spokesperson noted: "The amount of energy in the atmosphere was extremely high."
US: Extreme heat and violent storms
In the United States, meteorologists are warning of a combination of extreme heat and powerful storms across large geographic areas. NOAA warned of severe weather from the northeastern states to the Great Plains. In Oklahoma City, a powerful storm overturned multi-ton shipping containers inside a city park, demonstrating the ferocity of the phenomena.
Fish are "boiling" in lakes and rivers
The consequences of the heat are not limited to humans. In many parts of the US, mass fish die-offs are being recorded due to rising water temperatures and oxygen deprivation. In Lake Como, Minnesota, thousands of dead fish were removed. In Arizona, San Carlos Lake was closed indefinitely to the public, as nearly the entire fish population was wiped out. Similar phenomena occurred in the Charles River in Massachusetts.
Indonesia: Drought and a lack of drinking water
At the same time, drought is beginning to seriously affect Indonesia. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is already reporting significant shortages of drinking water in many areas of Java. In the village of Ridogalih, about 800 residents are struggling to secure clean water after a full month without rainfall.
The ghost of 1877: When a Super El Niño caused famines and 50 million deaths
History offers a particularly worrying precedent. The powerful El Niño of 1877 was linked to widespread droughts in Asia, Brazil, and North Africa, causing famines that cost the lives of approximately 50 million people. Professor Deepti Singh from Washington State University notes: "The famines of that period were catastrophic. The number of victims is awe-inspiring even today." According to researchers who published a study in the Journal of Climate in 2018: "It was likely the worst environmental disaster that has ever struck humanity."
Global food crisis on the horizon
Experts warn that the new Super El Niño may cause major losses in the production of basic agricultural products. Droughts are expected in critical agricultural regions such as:
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Eastern Indonesia
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The Philippines
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Southeastern China
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Southern Africa
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India
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Northern South America
The four basic crops that provide more than 60% of the calories for the global population — wheat, rice, corn, and soy — are considered particularly vulnerable to the effects of El Niño. Analysts warn that an extreme episode could cause severe production shortages, price spikes, and new turmoil in global food markets.
The big question
Even without the Super El Niño, global agricultural production would be under pressure due to the fertilizer crisis, increased energy costs, and persistent droughts. Now, however, the phenomenon threatens to dramatically worsen the situation. The real effects will begin to show after the autumn harvests. Food prices in developed economies are expected to rise further, while in poorer countries, the risk of food shortages and food crises may become a reality.
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