El Niño lowers rainfall in Venezuela as climate pressure raises food costs across Latin America

Meteorologists report that the developing El Niño event is already reducing precipitation in Venezuela. Colonel Richard Núñez of the National Observatory of Climate Crisis explained that areas normally receiving about 150 mm of rain could see drops to between 110 mm and 120 mm, though an extreme drought is not expected. The phenomenon, classified after a sustained sea‑surface temperature rise of at least 0.5 °C, usually manifests its local effects three to five months after formation and is projected to persist through the remainder of 2026 and into early 2027.

A separate Global Nutrition Report 2026 highlights how climate‑related shocks are inflating the cost of a healthy diet for millions in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study warns that 2.6 billion people worldwide cannot afford nutritious food, and climate‑induced droughts, heatwaves and erratic rains are driving up prices, prompting shifts toward cheaper ultra‑processed foods. These dietary changes are linked to rising rates of anemia, obesity, diabetes and child malnutrition. The report calls for climate‑smart agriculture, transformation of food environments, and reduction of food loss and waste to protect vulnerable populations.

Both developments underscore the intertwined risks of weather extremes and nutrition insecurity in the region.