Map shows where the 2026 ‘super’ El Niño could bring lots of rain, extreme drought

# Why This Matters A 2026 super El Niño could reshape global food markets and trigger humanitarian crises across vulnerable regions. Historical precedent suggests such an event would drench parts of South America and Southeast Asia with destructive flooding while simultaneously creating severe drought conditions across Africa, Australia, and India—regions already stressed by climate change and population growth. The agricultural disruptions alone could spike grain and commodity prices worldwide, directly affecting food security for billions of people and straining supply chains that remain fragile from recent global shocks. Water utilities and governments in drought-prone areas have limited time to prepare infrastructure, emergency reserves, and contingency plans, making advance planning not merely beneficial but essential to preventing cascading crises in water access, crop yields, and economic stability.