El Niño triggers disaster declarations and severe weather forecasts across South America

The El Niño climate phenomenon is already active and is expected to persist into early 2027, bringing above‑average rainfall to large parts of the continent. In Argentina, meteorologists such as Germán Heinzenknecht warn of heightened flood risk for the Litoral region and increased precipitation in Buenos Aires, La Pampa and the Pampas provinces through the coming months. The European Centre for Medium‑Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) projects above‑normal rains for eastern Argentina in August‑September and an unusually wet August for much of Chile, with the southern Andes remaining dry.

Colombia’s national government has declared a 12‑month state of disaster under Decree 0802 to mobilise resources against the imminent impacts of El Niño, citing threats to water, food and energy supplies. The decree enables coordinated risk‑management actions across national and regional agencies.

In Peru, Soraida Condori, head of the Mesa Técnica de Granos Andinos, warns that Andean grain production could fall up to 80 % this year because of severe drought and temperature stresses linked to El Niño, prompting calls for state‑led research and consumption programmes.

Overall, the expanding El Niño event is reshaping weather patterns, agricultural outlooks and emergency planning throughout South America.