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[INTERNATIONAL] · Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras · 100 sources

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El Niño phenomenon triggers global emergency alerts and food security warnings

The El Niño climate phenomenon is intensifying globally, prompting emergency declarations and severe economic warnings. The United Nations has warned that up to 50 million people could face acute hunger due to resulting weather extremes. Meteorologists from the Met Office suggest this could be the strongest El Niño in a century, with Pacific sea surface temperatures potentially rising by more than three degrees Celsius, potentially making 2027 a record-breaking hot year.

Governments in Central and South America are responding to the crisis. El Salvador has declared a maximum alert due to severe drought and record temperatures, while Panama has declared a national state of emergency to manage impacts on water, energy, and logistics. The Panama Canal Authority has already begun reducing daily vessel transits to conserve water levels. In Mendoza, Argentina, authorities are coordinating contingency plans for potential floods and storms projected between late 2026 and early 2027.

Agricultural sectors are facing significant threats. In Colombia, Cenipalma reports that water deficits are causing substantial losses in palm oil production. In Chile, experts warn of intense rainfall during the spring flowering season, which could damage fruit and berry crops. While some regions may see increased rainfall, the overall trend points toward extreme volatility in food security and global supply chains.

Entities

Agencia Federal de Emergencias · Antofagasta · Argentina · Autoridad Interjurisdiccional de las Cuencas · Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology · Cenipalma · Chile · Dirección Meteorológica de Chile · El Niño · El Salvador Civil Protection Directorate · INIA Quilamapu · Maule

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