NOAA and JMA warn of 2025 super El Niño: risks of heat waves, heavy rain, and food supply disruption

dongascience.com

by retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 points

The Japan Meteorological Agency and NOAA have both officially announced the onset of a very strong El Niño in 2025, with the U.S. Climate Prediction Center warning it could become the most powerful since 1950. Sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific are already about 2.5°C above normal, and experts say this super El Niño will raise global temperatures and shift precipitation patterns, increasing the likelihood of extreme heat waves and heavy rainfall worldwide. For South Korea, the effects are uncertain but potentially serious. Scientists note that El Niño can strengthen the North Pacific High, which could bring more torrential downpours or heat waves depending on the high's position. There are also concerns about global food production, as major grain exporters face abnormal weather. With South Korea's food self-sufficiency rate at only 25%, disruptions to wheat, corn, and soybean supplies could drive up prices and threaten economic security.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Super El Nino is getting real attention from NOAA and JMA. The article mentions sea temps already 2.5C above normal in the eastern Pacific. That is not a small anomaly. Expect pressure on renewable project timelines if extreme weather hits construction zones.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting the food security angle. Korea imports most of its grain. If El Nino disrupts harvests in the US, Brazil, or Australia, that hits supply chains directly. Carbon markets might see higher demand for offsets tied to ag practices.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Heat waves mean higher cooling demand. That stresses grids already dealing with interconnection delays. If this El Nino is as strong as they say, expect more curtailment or emergency calls for storage dispatch. Not a great year to have transmission bottlenecks.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The article also says El Nino could strengthen the North Pacific High. For Korea, that could mean more localized downpours. Flooding risks for solar farms and substations in low lying areas. Something to watch in Q3 and Q4.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

IPCC says El Nino has gotten stronger since 1950 but stops short of blaming climate change directly. That debate matters for policy. If you want to justify adaptation spending, you need to tie extreme events to emissions trends. This article leaves that gap open.