The Australian Meteorological Service warned. this Tuesday (16), that an El Niño climate phenomenon has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026, becoming one of the most intense in the last seven decades. Meteorologists expect this more intense phenomenon to bring excessive rain to parts of the Americas and hot, dry conditions in Asia, where planting is already being harmed, raising concerns about food supplies in the world's most populous region. Related news: United States agency confirms start of El Niño phenomenon. Inmet warns of favorable conditions for a new episode of El Niño. Sea surface temperatures in the region have exceeded El Niño thresholds and all atmospheric indicators point to the phenomenon, the Weather Service said in a statement. "Forecasts point to a strong to very strong El Niño, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific," he added. "About half of the models indicate that this event could reach peaks among the highest observed since 1950." Scientists have said climate change will intensify the effects of this year's El Niño. El Niño, a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, is associated with less rainfall in winter and spring, especially on Australia's east coast, and warmer daytime temperatures in the south, the department said. The climate phenomenon is particularly harmful for Australia, as it affects the country's agricultural production, which is among the world's largest exporters of wheat, sugar and beef. The last El Niño recorded in Australia, between 2023 and 2024, caused the driest three-month period on record. One of the most intense events of this type, which occurred in 2015 and 2016, caused a widespread drought and reduced the production of grains and oilseeds. *Reproduction of this content is prohibited.