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Julia Cole confirms that human-caused global warming is supercharging the intensity of the developing 'Godzilla' El Niño event.

A new study led by Julia Cole of the University of Michigan has revealed that human-caused global warming is significantly amplifying the intensity of El Niño events. The research, published in Science, indicates that while El Niño typically supercharges global warming, the reverse is also true: fossil fuel combustion is making El Niño events more extreme. This trend is particularly evident in the last 40 years, where El Niño variability has increased by 37% compared of to preindustrial times. The current developing El Niño, informally dubbed a "Godzilla" event, is expected to be one of the strongest on record. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have indicated a greater than 90 percent chance of the event reaching "very strong" strength during the fall and winter. The administration announced that the event is expected to persist through early 2027. While impacts vary by region, the event is likely to cause heavier rainfall and flooding in the southern U.S. and South America, while potentially causing drier conditions in the northern U.S. and Australia. The administration announced that the current El Niño could push approximately 50 million people into acute hunger by the end of next year due to its impact on global food production.

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