How ‘Super’ El Niño Could Bring
Chaos to the World’s Weather
BBC News

(May 15, 2026) – New forecasts show increasing confidence that the developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean could be one of the strongest on record. Scientists are concerned about the huge humanitarian impacts it could have as well as the likelihood of 2027 being the warmest year on record. So, what exactly is it and how could it impact us?

A new phase of the natural El Niño weather pattern is “on our doorstep”, according to UN scientists, boosting temperatures on a planet already under strain from climate change. The World Meteorological Organization said El Niño is “very likely” to officially begin within the next few months, driving more extreme weather around much of the globe.

Several forecasts from national weather agencies suggest this El Niño could end up as one of the strongest ever recorded, nicknamed by some as a possible “super” or even “Godzilla” event. Yet El Niño is not just a climate story – throughout history, this recurring weather pattern has helped shape global events, triggering everything from famines and revolutions to impacting the Cold War.

In this episode, we speak to historian Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History at Oxford, to discuss what historical El Niños tell us about what could be coming our way, and how we can collectively prepare.