DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇮 Nicaragua /Disasters & Emergencies

2026 "Super El Niño" Threatens Extreme Wildfire Season

From Confidencial · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Researchers warn of a severe wildfire season in 2026, fueled by climate change and a potentially strong El Niño phenomenon.
  • Global wildfire acreage has exceeded previous records, with unprecedented fires in West Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia.
  • Scientists predict extreme fire conditions if a strong El Niño develops, exacerbated by rapid shifts from wet to dry conditions in some regions.

The world is bracing for what scientists are calling a "Super El Niño" year, and the implications for wildfire seasons are dire. Researchers from World Weather Attribution (WWA) have issued stark warnings, noting that the early months of 2026 have already shattered records for burned land globally.

This year, the global fire season has started very quickly.

— Theodore KeepingDescribing the unusually rapid start to the global wildfire season in 2026.

This year's wildfire season began with alarming speed. Globally, over 50% more land has burned than is typical for this time of year, surpassing previous records set in 2012. The devastation is widespread, with unprecedented fires raging across West Africa and the Sahel, parts of South America including Chile and Argentina, and Central America. Europe is also feeling the heat, with Spain and Portugal among the hardest-hit nations.

Scientists point to a dangerous combination of factors. Unusually high rainfall in some regions during the last wet season fueled grass growth, which has now dried out and become highly flammable. This is compounded by severe droughts and heatwaves, creating tinderbox conditions. This rapid shift from wet to dry, termed "hydroclimatic whiplash," is particularly concerning in regions like West Africa.

In total, 85 million hectares have burned in Africa this year, compared to the previous record of 69 million hectares.

— Theodore KeepingQuantifying the extent of wildfires in Africa in 2026 compared to previous records.

Adding to the crisis, Asia has experienced massive wildfires, with India, Southeast Asia, and Northeast China seeing nearly 40% more land burn than in their previous record year of 2025. The United States and Australia are also reporting unusually high burned areas. The looming threat of a strong El Niño, with a 61% probability of developing and persisting through the year, could amplify these conditions to catastrophic levels not seen in recent history. The potential for "extreme and devastating" fires is a chilling prospect for a world already struggling with the climate crisis.

The probability of extreme and devastating fires could be the highest we have seen in recent history if a strong El Niño phenomenon develops.

— Theodore KeepingWarning about the potential severity of wildfires if a strong El Niño occurs.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Confidencial in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog