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Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

El Niño: What to expect

Episode 260603 / 03 Jun 2026

(Photo via Getty Images)

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The story

A new phase of the natural El Niño weather pattern could begin in a few weeks, the UN has warned. El Niño is the name for a natural climate event where sea water temperatures rise in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. It creates unusually hot and stormy weather. Several forecasts from national weather agencies suggest it could end up as one of the strongest ever recorded – a possible so-called ‘super’ El Niño. The World Meteorological Organization said this El Niño is likely to strengthen over the rest of 2026, driving more extreme weather around much of the globe. 

News headlines 

UN warns of extreme heat risk from El Nino and urges preparedness
Reuters

El Niño and high tide flooding, a possible double whammy for some coastal communities in 2026
National Ocean Service

El Niño Is the Next Risk Hanging Over the Global Economy 
Wall Street Journal

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Key words and phrases

preparednes
the state of being ready

  • The covid pandemic highlighted the importance of preparedness.

double whammy
two bad things happening at once

  • The tennis player suffered a double whammy. He injured his knee and then lost the match.

hanging over
causing worry about a future bad event

  • The threat of job cuts ishanging over the employees. They don’t know what to do.

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