From Slate Magazine · Ian Prasad Philbrick · · 1m 10s
El Niño Storms and Climate Warnings
El Niño's extreme weather threatens global flooding and heatwaves this fall.
In brief
El Niño's extreme weather threatens global flooding and heatwaves this fall. El Niño's strongest on-record event risks 451,000 deaths by February as it fuels extreme weather worldwide. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
El Niño Basics
El Niño is a climate pattern that warms the Pacific Ocean every few years around Christmastime.
“El Niño de Navidad”
El Niño's Name Origin
South American fishermen named it El Niño de Navidad, meaning 'the Christmas Child' in Spanish.
“El Niño de Navidad”
This Year's El Niño
Scientists forecast this year's El Niño could be the strongest on record, spiking sea temperatures far above normal.
“strongest on record”
Storm Link to El Niño
El Niño shifts the Pacific jet stream south, helping nor’easters form off the southeastern U.S. and travel up the Eastern Seaboard.
“shifts the Pacific jet stream south”
El Niño's Global Impact
Warmer seas fuel Pacific hurricanes, threatening flooding in Hawai'i and Mexico this week.
“Pacific hurricanes”
Drought and Famine Risks
Drought is straining crop yields in Africa, Central America, and India, threatening famine by February.
“drought is already strangling crop yields”
Global Death Toll
Scientists project El Niño could kill 451,000 people worldwide by February.
“451,000 people worldwide”
The key point
El Niño's strongest on-record event risks 451,000 deaths by February as it fuels extreme weather worldwide.
