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Environment
Jun 05, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

Asia Braces for Unpredictable El Niño as Climate Risks Surge

AI Summary
The UN and the World Meteorological Organization warn that El Niño is likely to develop by September, bringing heightened heat, drought and extreme rainfall across Asia. India, China and other regions face amplified risks to agriculture, water supplies and power grids as climate change intensifies the phenomenon.

Escalating El Niño Probability and UN Warning

The United Nations has warned that the world must prepare for the imminent return of El Niño, a powerful weather pattern that raises global temperatures and drives extreme weather. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported an 80% chance of El Niño forming before September and a 90% chance before November.

Projected Climate Impacts Across Key Asian Regions

  • India: Expected below‑average monsoon rainfall, extending the current heatwave and threatening wheat and mustard crops.
  • China: Anticipated 20% higher rainfall in southern regions, with some areas forecast to receive over 200 mm of rain; the Qinghai‑Tibetan plateau warned of “unpredictable and extreme” conditions.
  • General: Intensifying heat and drought could stress agriculture, power grids, and water supplies across the continent.

Sectoral Vulnerabilities: Agriculture, Power Grids, and Water Supplies

Experts highlight a “deadly combination” for India, where delayed monsoon rains could exacerbate the ongoing energy crisis and jeopardise food security. In Mumbai, the city’s seven rain‑fed lakes hold only enough water for 45 days, raising the risk of a severe water shortage if rains are delayed. In China, flood‑prone regions face heightened storm risk, while drought‑sensitive areas worry about power‑grid strain.

Looking Ahead: Preparedness Measures and Uncertain Outlook

National climate agencies in both India and China are urging stockpiling of emergency supplies and issuing weather warnings. The UN stresses that El Niño’s impacts will be “super‑charged” by human‑driven climate change, making the upcoming summer and autumn seasons especially unpredictable for the region.