The globe is bracing for the destructive effects of a powerful climate anomaly, El Niño, that experts warn could send food costs soaring over the next few years.

El Niño forms when changing wind patterns allow warmer water temperatures in the Pacific to spread, significantly altering global weather patterns. We are currently on track for a historic El Niño, which has the potential to trigger significant disruptions in agricultural markets around the world.

As sea surface temperatures continue to rise rapidly in the Pacific Ocean, the resulting shifts in weather patterns threaten to inflict severe damage on major harvest regions, creating a ripple effect that could last well into 2028.

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(MORE: Your complete guide to everything El Niño)

This latest climate phenomenon emerges at an already precarious moment for the global economy. When combined with other inflationary causes and pre-existing supply chain vulnerabilities, the extreme weather driven by El Niño is expected to serve as a formidable second shock to the worldwide food system.

Forecasters project that this could drastically amplify the financial strain on households that are already grappling with an elevated cost of living, while simultaneously complicating the efforts of central banks attempting to keep inflation rates under control, as reported by The Guardian.

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A looming threat to global agriculture

As the El Niño intensifies, it is poised to bring intense heatwaves, devastating floods and severe droughts to critical farming regions. Although the climate pattern alters rainfall and temperatures unevenly across the planet, the overall impact on essential commodities is expected to be profound.

Economists estimate that global food commodity prices could surge by over 15% as a direct consequence of this severe weather.

Regions such as southern Africa and parts of South America often face elevated drought risks during these periods, while other areas might contend with catastrophic flooding, drastically reducing the yields of vital crops like rice, wheat, corn, and soya beans.

(MORE: Intensifying El Niño poised to reshape 2026 Atlantic hurricane season outlook)

The delayed effects of agricultural disruption mean that consumers will likely feel the economic pain over an extended timeframe. Because planting and harvesting cycles vary widely depending on the crop and region, the full realization of these agricultural shortages may not peak until late 2028.

Logistical hurdles — such as lowered water levels in essential transit rivers and canals — will only compound the difficulties in transporting the food that is successfully grown.