Extreme Heat, El Niño, and Public Safety: Why Preparation Matters
The heat many people experience before the monsoon is not always “normal summer heat”. In some years, broader climate patterns can increase the risk of unusually hot, dry, or uncomfortable conditions. One such pattern is El Niño, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon linked to warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures in parts of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño can influence global wind patterns, rainfall distribution, and temperatures, although its effects vary by region and season. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the likelihood of El Niño conditions is increasing from mid-2026, while NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has indicated that ENSO-neutral conditions are currently present but El Niño may emerge later in 2026. It is important to describe this risk accurately. El Niño itself is not the same thing as a heatwave, and not every hot day can be directly blamed on El Niño. However, El Niño can contribute to changes in rainfall a...