Super El Niño May Cause 450,000 Heat Deaths Globally
A new report from the Climate Impact Lab warns that the ongoing super-sized El Niño could lead to devastating heat-related consequences worldwide. The phenomenon, which began in June 2026, is expected to last until February 2027, driving global land temperatures up by 1.2°C (2.1°F) above normal. This extreme heat, compounded by existing global warming, could result in 451,000 heat-related deaths globally, according to the study. The report highlights that El Niño is intensifying faster than anticipated, with its impacts disproportionately affecting countries in the Global South, such as Nigeria, Indonesia, Sudan, India, and Brazil. The United States is also projected to experience 3,500 heat-related deaths. The study uses peer-reviewed methodologies but has not yet undergone full peer review. Researchers emphasize the urgency for immediate action to mitigate these impacts, as El Niño's effects are expected to persist into the Northern Hemisphere's spring and summer months.
