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From parched lands to raging seas, photos show El Niño’s grip on 2026

Camille Fine
Oct. 21, 2026, 12:45 p.m. ET
Explore the impact from a record strong El Niño year in striking scenes of floods, droughts, extreme hea t and more. In an aerial view, Pacific Ocean waves wash into damaged homes amid high surf generated by Tropical Storm Rachel on October 11, 2026 in Long Beach, California. California was under its second-ever tropical storm watch, with coastal flood warnings in effect from Los Angeles to San Diego. An emerging El Niño and oceanic Kelvin wave moving up the coastline have compounded conditions in the region.
Explore the impact from a record strong El Niño year in striking scenes of floods, droughts, extreme heat and more.

In an aerial view, Pacific Ocean waves wash into damaged homes amid high surf generated by Tropical Storm Rachel on October 11, 2026 in Long Beach, California. California was under its second-ever tropical storm watch, with coastal flood warnings in effect from Los Angeles to San Diego. An emerging El Niño and oceanic Kelvin wave moving up the coastline have compounded conditions in the region.
Mario Tama, Getty Images
A man cools off in a public fountain amid high temperatures linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon in Cali, Colombia, on September 23, 2026.
A man cools off in a public fountain amid high temperatures linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon in Cali, Colombia, on September 23, 2026.
JOAQUIN SARMIENTO, AFP Via Getty Images
In an aerial view, people ride a bicycle in coastal floodwaters amid strong waves and high tides generated by Tropical Storm Rachel on October 9, 2026 in Newport Beach, California. An emerging El Niño and oceanic Kelvin wave moving up the coastline have compounded conditions in the region.
In an aerial view, people ride a bicycle in coastal floodwaters amid strong waves and high tides generated by Tropical Storm Rachel on October 9, 2026 in Newport Beach, California. An emerging El Niño and oceanic Kelvin wave moving up the coastline have compounded conditions in the region.
Mario Tama, Getty Images
A drone view shows a road near the Valle Nevado ski resort during an unprecedented snow season driven by one of the most intense El Nino episodes in recent decades, according to Chile's Meteorological Directorate, in Santiago, Chile, October 12, 2026.
A drone view shows a road near the Valle Nevado ski resort during an unprecedented snow season driven by one of the most intense El Nino episodes in recent decades, according to Chile's Meteorological Directorate, in Santiago, Chile, October 12, 2026.
Pablo Sanhueza, REUTERS
A lifeguard keeps watch along a closed boardwalk as a Pacific Ocean wave crashes over a seawall protecting homes on September 7, 2026 in Long Beach, California. Heavy surf generated by offshore Hurricane Marie, amid a record-breaking ocean heat and an emerging El Niño, caused minor coastal flooding and forced the evacuation of roughly 20 beachfront homes along the Long Beach Peninsula.
A lifeguard keeps watch along a closed boardwalk as a Pacific Ocean wave crashes over a seawall protecting homes on September 7, 2026 in Long Beach, California. Heavy surf generated by offshore Hurricane Marie, amid a record-breaking ocean heat and an emerging El Niño, caused minor coastal flooding and forced the evacuation of roughly 20 beachfront homes along the Long Beach Peninsula.
Mario Tama, Getty Images
Fishermen collect part of the day's catch from a boat before it is taken to the Seafood Market for sale in Panama City on September 23, 2026. Small-scale fishermen in the eastern Pacific -from the shores of Ecuador and Peru to those of Panama and Guatemala- are suffering the impact of ocean warming caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which forces several species to migrate to deeper waters and leaves nets half empty and coastal communities in crisis.
Fishermen collect part of the day's catch from a boat before it is taken to the Seafood Market for sale in Panama City on September 23, 2026. Small-scale fishermen in the eastern Pacific -from the shores of Ecuador and Peru to those of Panama and Guatemala- are suffering the impact of ocean warming caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which forces several species to migrate to deeper waters and leaves nets half empty and coastal communities in crisis.
MARTIN BERNETTI, AFP Via Getty Images
A drone view of a man covering the roof of his house with plastic sheeting after storms which brought lightning, hail and heavy rain, and were intensified, according to national media, by the effects of the El Nino phenomenon, and prompting Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) to declare a red alert for the Santiago Metropolitan Region, in Santiago, Chile, October 14, 2026.
A drone view of a man covering the roof of his house with plastic sheeting after storms which brought lightning, hail and heavy rain, and were intensified, according to national media, by the effects of the El Nino phenomenon, and prompting Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) to declare a red alert for the Santiago Metropolitan Region, in Santiago, Chile, October 14, 2026.
Pablo Sanhueza, REUTERS
Pelicans gather on the shore of a fishing port in Chorrillos, as environmental groups warn that El Nino-driven warming of Pacific waters and shifts in marine ecosystems are reducing the availability of fish for seabirds along Peru's coast, in Lima, Peru, September 27, 2026.
Pelicans gather on the shore of a fishing port in Chorrillos, as environmental groups warn that El Nino-driven warming of Pacific waters and shifts in marine ecosystems are reducing the availability of fish for seabirds along Peru's coast, in Lima, Peru, September 27, 2026.
Sebastian Castaneda, REUTERS
A drone view shows an irrigation reservoir among crops after prolonged dry conditions, as the Salvadoran government declares a state of national emergency due to the effects of El Nino, in Comasagua, El Salvador, October 7, 2026.
A drone view shows an irrigation reservoir among crops after prolonged dry conditions, as the Salvadoran government declares a state of national emergency due to the effects of El Nino, in Comasagua, El Salvador, October 7, 2026.
Jose Cabezas, REUTERS
A drone view shows a tugboat alongside a cargo barge loaded with metal pipes, stuck on the Kapuas River, as water levels recede amid a prolonged El Nino-induced drought in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, September 30, 2026.
A drone view shows a tugboat alongside a cargo barge loaded with metal pipes, stuck on the Kapuas River, as water levels recede amid a prolonged El Nino-induced drought in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, September 30, 2026.
Soepriyadi Gunawan, REUTERS
General view shows the visitor walkway at the Iguazu Falls over a strong current seen from the Brazilian side of the triple Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay border, in the city of Foz do Iguacu, Parana state, Brazil, on October 13, 2026. Authorities temporarily closed tourist access to Iguazu Falls due to the rising level of the river of the same name, while increases have been recorded in the flow of the Parana and Uruguay rivers as a result of rains associated with the El Niño.
General view shows the visitor walkway at the Iguazu Falls over a strong current seen from the Brazilian side of the triple Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay border, in the city of Foz do Iguacu, Parana state, Brazil, on October 13, 2026. Authorities temporarily closed tourist access to Iguazu Falls due to the rising level of the river of the same name, while increases have been recorded in the flow of the Parana and Uruguay rivers as a result of rains associated with the El Niño.
CHRISTIAN RIZZI, AFP Via Getty Images
An aerial view of remnants of the Somang village which have reemerged in a Karian reservoir as it dries up amid prolonged due to the El Nino-driven drought in Lebak on October 17, 2026 in Banten province, Indonesia. Somang village was submerged as part of the Karian Dam project, built between 2015 and 2023, to supply water to Jakarta and its surrounding areas. After a long drought, the ruins of houses and mosques have reemerged.
An aerial view of remnants of the Somang village which have reemerged in a Karian reservoir as it dries up amid prolonged due to the El Nino-driven drought in Lebak on October 17, 2026 in Banten province, Indonesia. Somang village was submerged as part of the Karian Dam project, built between 2015 and 2023, to supply water to Jakarta and its surrounding areas. After a long drought, the ruins of houses and mosques have reemerged.
Ulet Ifansasti, Getty Images
People use the light from a phone to provide illumination during a power outage caused by an electrical grid failure affecting part of the city, as Venezuelans face worsening power and water shortages following government warnings of drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon, deepening hardships for a population already coping with daily outages and the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, in Caracas, Venezuela, August 9, 2026.
People use the light from a phone to provide illumination during a power outage caused by an electrical grid failure affecting part of the city, as Venezuelans face worsening power and water shortages following government warnings of drought linked to the El Nino phenomenon, deepening hardships for a population already coping with daily outages and the aftermath of devastating earthquakes, in Caracas, Venezuela, August 9, 2026.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, REUTERS
A dog walks on cracked ground at the dried-up Guarne Lagoon in Arvi Park amid drought conditions linked to the El Nino phenomenon, in Medellin, Colombia, September 3, 2026.
A dog walks on cracked ground at the dried-up Guarne Lagoon in Arvi Park amid drought conditions linked to the El Nino phenomenon, in Medellin, Colombia, September 3, 2026.
Juan David Duque, REUTERS
A drone view shows the dried-up Guarne Lagoon at Arvi Park amid drought conditions linked to the El Nino phenomenon, in Medellin, Colombia, September 3, 2026.
A drone view shows the dried-up Guarne Lagoon at Arvi Park amid drought conditions linked to the El Nino phenomenon, in Medellin, Colombia, September 3, 2026.
Juan David Duque, REUTERS
The container ship CMA CGM Arctic, sailing under the Maltese flag, passes through the Cocoli Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on September 3, 2026, ahead of reduced transit measures linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon that are set to come into force on September 4.
The container ship CMA CGM Arctic, sailing under the Maltese flag, passes through the Cocoli Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on September 3, 2026, ahead of reduced transit measures linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon that are set to come into force on September 4.
MARTIN BERNETTI, AFP Via Getty Images
A villager carries a water container to collect spring water in a drought-hit area during the dry season, amid forecasts that El Nino may contribute to drier-than-normal conditions, in Gunung Batur village, Cilegon, Banten province, Indonesia, July 17, 2026.
A villager carries a water container to collect spring water in a drought-hit area during the dry season, amid forecasts that El Nino may contribute to drier-than-normal conditions, in Gunung Batur village, Cilegon, Banten province, Indonesia, July 17, 2026.
Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana, REUTERS
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