El Niño confirmed by US forecasters, set to intensify and hit Asian crops

Meteorologists at the U.S. Climate Prediction Center have confirmed that the El Niño climate pattern is now active and will strengthen during the winter of 2026‑27. The warming of central and eastern equatorial Pacific waters is expected to raise global temperatures, bring drought conditions to Southeast Asia and India, and reduce rainfall that supports the region’s rice, cotton and soybeans. Officials in Malaysia warned of an 8‑10% drop in crop yields, while Indonesian rice farmers have already advanced planting dates to avoid prolonged dry spells.

The same El Niño development is projected to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, with the U.S. hurricane season anticipated to be below normal, although a strong storm remains possible.

These forecasts highlight potential food‑security challenges for millions of people in the affected Asian nations and a quieter hurricane season for the United States.