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NOAA Predicts 60% Chance of Historic El Niño This Winter, Shifting U.S. Weather Patterns

NOAA Predicts 60% Chance of Historic El Niño This Winter, Shifting U.S. Weather Patterns

The National Weather Service's (NWS) Climate Prediction Center announced a 60% chance that the current El Niño event will be record-breaking, surpassing any in the past 75 years. This climate phenomenon, characterized by a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean, is intensifying, with ocean temperatures continuing to rise, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NWS indicated that there is a greater than 79% chance of a strong or very strong El Niño persisting through January-March 2027. Forecasters classify an El Niño as 'very strong' when temperatures in the key Niño-3.4 region of the Pacific are at least 2°C above average over a three-month period; this region is currently about 2.5°C above average. This strengthening El Niño is expected to bring extreme weather globally, including drought in some areas and heavy rain and flooding in others. The impacts are already being felt worldwide, with projections of increased heat-related deaths and ongoing droughts in ...

IPA Evaluates Climate-Resilient Credit Product in the Philippines, Develops Health Microinsurance Research

IPA Evaluates Climate-Resilient Credit Product in the Philippines, Develops Health Microinsurance Research

IPA Evaluates Climate-Resilient Credit Product in the Philippines, Develops Health Microinsurance Research

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas due to severe drought conditions. This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to agricultural producers recovering from the drought through emergency loans. These loans can be utilized for various recovery needs, including replacing essential items like equipment or livestock, reorganizing farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will evaluate loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment ability. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, these counties experienced a drought intensity of D2 (Severe) for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 (Extreme) or D4 (Exceptional) during the growing season.

USDA Designates Scott County, Minnesota, as Natural Disaster Area Due to Drought

USDA Designates Scott County, Minnesota, as Natural Disaster Area Due to Drought

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially designated Scott County, Minnesota, as a natural disaster area due to severe drought conditions. This designation, effective November 13, 2026, allows the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to provide emergency credit to agricultural producers in the affected region. Farmers and ranchers in Scott County, along with those in contiguous counties including Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, and Sibley, are now eligible for emergency loans. These loans are designed to help producers recover from losses by funding essential replacements like equipment or livestock, assisting with the reorganization of farming operations, or refinancing certain debts. The FSA will evaluate loan applications based on the extent of losses, available security, and repayment capability. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that these counties experienced D2 Drought-Severe conditions for eight or more consecutive weeks, or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional l...

El Niño Threatens Global Food Security and Health, Demanding Proactive Responses

El Niño Threatens Global Food Security and Health, Demanding Proactive Responses

The current El Niño event, projected to be historically strong and peak in December with lasting impacts into 2027, is already severely affecting smallholder farmers globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This phenomenon is causing extreme heat, drought, and deluges, leading to significant crop failures. Experts warn that millions of smallholders could face acute hunger and poverty, increasing health problems and potentially child labor. Palm oil suppliers in Indonesia are reporting losses due to prolonged drought, while delayed rains in Sudan raise famine risks. In Central America, Guatemalan farmers are experiencing sharp reductions in food crops, prompting emergency declarations in El Salvador, Honduras, and Panama, as well as Bolivia and Peru. The United Nations estimates that this El Niño could push an additional 49 million people into acute hunger, with southern Africa and Central America being the hardest hit.

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

USDA Designates Baca and Lincoln Counties in Colorado as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought, Offering Emergency Loans to Farmers

On November 13, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Baca and Lincoln counties in Colorado as primary natural disaster areas. This designation is a direct response to severe drought conditions experienced in these areas, which have met the criteria of D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional during the growing season, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. As a result of this Secretarial natural disaster designation, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is now authorized to provide emergency credit through emergency loans to agricultural producers in these counties. The designation also extends eligibility for assistance to contiguous counties in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, acknowledging the widespread impact of the drought.

Historic 'Super El Niño' Event Expected to Cause Global Devastation Through 2027

Historic 'Super El Niño' Event Expected to Cause Global Devastation Through 2027

A 'Super El Niño' event, characterized by tropical Pacific Ocean surface waters approximately 2 degrees Celsius warmer than usual, is currently underway and is forecast to continue causing devastating consequences globally until at least March 2027. According to meteorologists, this El Niño is one of the most historic episodes in modern observation records, with temperatures hitting 3.05°C above average in September 2026. El Niño episodes occur when the waters of the Central Pacific warm as equatorial trade winds weaken, allowing warm waters to spread eastward towards South America. This phenomenon significantly influences atmospheric steering currents and storm tracks, leading to altered seasonal precipitation patterns and coastal weather hazards. The current event is already causing coastal flooding and is expected to exacerbate extreme weather events worldwide, including severe drought in some regions and unusually heavy rainfall and flooding in others.

Severe Drought Conditions Persist Across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Triggering High Fire Risk

Severe Drought Conditions Persist Across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, Triggering High Fire Risk

The Arkansas-Louisiana-Mississippi region is experiencing widespread and severe drought conditions, with 94% of the area classified under Moderate to Exceptional Drought (D1-D4). Arkansas is particularly affected, with nearly 50% of the state in Exceptional Drought. This severe drought has rapidly intensified since August, following the warmest August–October period on record for all three states, coupled with near-record dryness. These conditions have led to significant impacts, including a high fire risk across southeastern Arkansas, most of Louisiana, and western/southern Mississippi, prompting numerous burn and outdoor fire bans. Agriculture is heavily strained, affecting row crops and livestock production, while water levels are significantly depleted, impacting wetlands, local wildlife, and communities. The U.S. Drought Monitor map for November 12, 2026, shows extensive areas of Severe to Exceptional Drought (D2–D4).

Fiji's Northern Division Warned to Enhance El Niño Preparedness Amidst Ongoing Impacts

Fiji's Northern Division Warned to Enhance El Niño Preparedness Amidst Ongoing Impacts

Fiji's Northern Division is being urged to strengthen its preparedness for climate-related disasters as the country continues to experience the effects of the current El Niño event. This call was made during the official opening of the 9th National Climate Outlook Forum in Labasa, marking the first time the forum has been hosted in the Northern Division. Acting Commissioner Northern Division Apolosi Lewaqai emphasized the need to move beyond reactive disaster management towards building resilient communities. Senior Scientist at the Fiji Meteorological Services, Arieta Baleisolomone, confirmed that the Northern and Western divisions typically bear the brunt of El Niño's effects, with communities already reporting impacts on the ground. The forum aims to raise awareness among Northern Division communities about the likely impacts of the current climate event.

San Jose City Council Declares Local Emergency Ahead of Severe Winter Storms

San Jose City Council Declares Local Emergency Ahead of Severe Winter Storms

The San Jose City Council has declared a local emergency in anticipation of severe winter storms, which are predicted to be the strongest on record for the area due to El Niño. This declaration provides city staff with additional resources to prepare, purchase necessary supplies, and protect residents and infrastructure. The decision follows updated weather predictions from the National Weather Service and discussions between the City and Valley Water regarding potential flood risks along San Jose's creeks and rivers. Ray Riordan, director of San Jose's Office of Emergency Management, emphasized that the declaration is a proactive measure to get ahead of the situation. While the specific impacts of El Niño remain uncertain, the city is preparing for various scenarios by identifying vulnerable areas and acquiring essential supplies and equipment. This emergency declaration facilitates these preparations, allowing major departments like D.O.T. and Public Works to establish staffing levels and response plans ...

Republic of Korea Donates 5,900 MT of Rice to Bolster Regional Emergency Preparedness in Asia

Republic of Korea Donates 5,900 MT of Rice to Bolster Regional Emergency Preparedness in Asia

The Republic of Korea has committed 5,900 metric tons (MT) of rice for Fiscal Year 2026 to the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Tier 3 pre-positioned program. This contribution aims to enhance regional solidarity and readiness in response to increasingly severe and frequent natural disasters, intensified by El Niño and climate change. Of the total allocation, 2,500 MT will be stored in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 3,000 MT in Yangon, Myanmar, and 400 MT in Pasay City, Philippines. This strategic pre-positioning allows recipient countries to rapidly mobilize food assistance when humanitarian needs arise, ensuring quick relief during emergencies. Rice is a staple food in the ASEAN Plus Three region, symbolizing shared culture and identity, making this reserve crucial for food security.

Philippines Issued Red Alert for Tropical Cyclone CHAMPI-26 with Extreme Wind Speeds

Philippines Issued Red Alert for Tropical Cyclone CHAMPI-26 with Extreme Wind Speeds

The Philippines was under a Red alert from October 14 to October 25, 2026, due to Tropical Cyclone CHAMPI-26, as reported by the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). The cyclone recorded extreme wind speeds of 296.294 km/h during episode 46 of the event. GDACS also indicated that China, Guam, Japan, and the Republic of Korea were affected by the same tropical cyclone during this period. The alert level was classified as RED, signifying a high level of concern due to the severity of the weather event. This information was detected on November 11, 2026, following the cyclone's impact. The event highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, exacerbated by climate change and phenomena like El Niño, which pose significant threats to vulnerable regions.