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A 'Monster' El Niño Is Brewing in the Pacific

Mina Kim
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PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Palms are hit by strong wind and rain from Tropical Storm Hilary in the deserts of Southern California on August 20, 2023 in Palm Desert, California. More than 40 million people are under the first-ever Tropical Storm Warning issued for the area. A warming of ocean temperatures off Mexico caused by the combination rising temperatures and of the ocean phenomenon dubbed El Niño brought about the rare weather system, according to the National Weather Service. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Airdate: Thursday, May 14 at 10 AM

An El Niño is starting to form in the tropical Pacific Ocean, and some forecasters say it could be a “monster,” the most powerful in 150 years. The weather system could trigger potentially catastrophic heat waves, flooding and drought, with effects we could start to feel as early as this summer. We’ll talk to science journalists about how this brewing El Niño could test our readiness for the chaos of a warmer climate, and answer your questions about its potential impacts here in California and beyond.

Guests:

David Wallace-Wells, science writer and essayist, The New York Times Opinion

Bill McKibben, co-founder, climate activism group Third Act; author of more than 20 books, including "The End of Nature"

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