El Niño Emerges in Pacific, Raising Heat and Crop Risks (2)

El Niño has formed across the equatorial Pacific, setting the stage for months of droughts, floods and temperature fluctuations that will threaten communities worldwide along with agriculture and energy.

The climate phenomenon, identified by the Japan Meteorological Agency, is the first since 2023 — and could be one of the strongest on record. The El Niño event is expected to intensify in the coming months, and become very strong later in the year, persisting into at least December, according to the JMA. In addition to Japan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also noted its start.

El ...