Beyond records, impacts could include intensified heatwaves, coral bleaching, and disruptions to agriculture and water supplies across multiple continents. In regions like India, where monsoon rains support hundreds of millions, a developing El Niño often correlates with weaker rainfall, though exact outcomes depend on the event’s strength and timing.
Timely community action and strengthened health services will determine how many more young lives are placed at risk before cooler weather arrives, health workers say.