El Niño will reach a strength not seen in 40 years. Disturbing forecasts

El Niño is a climatic phenomenon characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. It disrupts normal trade winds, causing warm water to spread eastward, impacting weather patterns globally. This leads to heavy rainfall and flooding in South America, while Southeast Asia and Australia experience droughts and water shortages. The phenomenon is part of the ENSO cycle, with its counterpart being La Niña. The effects include increased global temperatures and economic impacts, such as food price fluctuations. Climate scientists had warned about a record El Niño earlier this year.