2026’s El Niño is shaping up to be a doozy – it’s already affecting global shipping, fish behavior and heat

El Niño can affect agriculture, marine life and economies in profound ways, including slowing commerce at the Panama Canal. This El Niño is likely to be the strongest in over a century.

By: Steven Paton, Smithsonian Institution, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 10, 2026

Words: 1,491

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Steven Paton, Smithsonian Institution

El Niño is here, and forecasters warn that it’s likely to be bigger and stronger in 2026-27 than any El Niño event recorded in at least 150 years.

During strong El Niños, global air and ocean temperatures spike, and precipitation patterns shift dramatically – flooding rains deluge places that are normally dry, and drought strikes some of the wettest locations on earth. With this El Niño arriving on top …

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