Record El Niño threatens Southeast Asian drought, risking global food price surge
A potentially record-breaking El Niño is deepening drought in Southeast Asia, jeopardising water, agriculture and fisheries and could lift food prices worldwide.
Climate experts warn one outlet El Niño is set to become the most intense in living memory, with ocean temperatures already at record highs. In Southeast Asia the phenomenon is compounding existing crises, sparking wildfires in Indonesia, lowering water levels in Jakarta’s main reservoir and threatening the Mekong River’s flow that sustains millions of fishers. Crop producers fear delayed planting and reduced rice and palm-oil output as rain-dependent fertiliser use becomes impossible.
Analysts project global food commodity prices could climb by more than 15 percent. The United Nations World Food Programme cautions that these combined impacts may push at least 49 million additional people into acute food insecurity by the end of 2027. Regional governments, already depleted by war-driven energy and fertilizer costs, have limited capacity to mitigate the looming effects.
Why it matters
El Niño-driven drought in Asia could trigger worldwide food price hikes and deepen hunger for millions.
How this story developed
- Aug 31 UN warns that a record-breaking El Niño could trigger worldwide extreme weather
- Sep 3 Temperatures will rise to around 27 °C in parts of southern England on Sunday, while rain and wind are expected to return early next week.
- Sep 3 UN says the El Niño is expected to remain in place until February 2027.
- Sep 5 Czech forecasts include a possible rapid temperature rise to around 30 °C early next week.
- Sep 7 Britain announced cuts of more than 80 % to bilateral aid in eight African states.
- Sep 7 UK models show a higher likelihood of stormier, wetter conditions during autumn and winter.
- Sep 9 A brief spell of 27‑28 °C heat is expected in southeast England on Sunday.
- Sep 9 The contiguous United States experienced its warmest June-August period on record, with an average temperature of 74.4°F, according to NOAA.
- Sep 10 August 2026 set a new all‑time monthly heat record and drought drove the two biggest western water reservoirs to their lowest historic levels.
- Sep 13 Forecasts now show showers spreading across the west and east of the UK by Tuesday, following the brief heat spike.
- Sep 20 New forecasts show London reaching about 24 °C by Monday and showers expected in Manchester from Thursday.
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