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El Niño Triggers Intense Heatwaves: 4.5 Lakh Deaths Predicted Globally by 2027
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News18•02-10-2026, 18:20
El Niño Triggers Intense Heatwaves: 4.5 Lakh Deaths Predicted Globally by 2027
- •A 'Climate Impact Lab' report warns of an additional 451,000 deaths worldwide due to severe heat-related causes between June 2024 and February 2027, driven by El Niño.
- •Approximately 15,800 lives in India alone are at risk during this period.
- •The report is based on a study correlating temperature and deaths across 24,378 regions globally.
- •El Niño is a natural phenomenon where central and eastern Pacific Ocean surface water temperature rises by 0.5 degrees Celsius or more; a 'Super El Niño' occurs when this increase reaches 2 degrees Celsius or more for several months.
- •Super El Niño intensifies natural disasters like wildfires, floods, storms, and droughts, impacting agriculture and increasing food prices.
Key Questions Answered
According to the Climate Impact Lab report, an estimated 451,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide could occur between June of the current year and the end of February 2027 due to severe heat driven by El Niño.
The climate study warns that approximately 15,800 lives in India are at risk of heat-related deaths over the six-month period, though some researchers note that intense heatwaves typically occur during India's summer.
El Niño is a natural phenomenon where central and eastern Pacific Ocean surface water increases by 0.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal temperature, and when this persists for months at 2 degrees or higher, it is called a Super El Niño.
