During a high tide that flooded the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California, on October 27, 2026. MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP It was the latest sign of the potentially devastating risks of "super El Niño": On Saturday, October 31, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources more easily, especially in areas hit by severe drought. The natural climate phenomenon, which began in the equatorial Pacific in the spring, has continued to gain strength, triggering extreme conditions in several regions around the globe: massive wildfires in Indonesia, historic drought in French Guiana, hurricanes in Mexico.
Even before it reaches its expected peak at the end of the year, this El Niño episode has already reached levels never before recorded. "It has already reached unprecedented levels since the late 20th century," said Lauriane Batté, a climatologist at Météo-France (France's national meteorological service). What impacts have already been observed? This natural climate oscillation, which occurs every two to seven years, disrupts normal temperature and precipitation patterns in many regions, especially those near the equatorial Pacific.
Indonesia, for example, has been facing massive wildfires for several months, fueled by drought. "These very dry conditions in the country are a hallmark of El Niño," explained Batté. The megafires have produced thick, toxic smoke that poses a health hazard and has spread over much of Southeast Asia. You have 79.69% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
Le Monde reports that the 2026 El Niño has reached record strength and links it to wildfires in Indonesia, drought in Bolivia and French Guiana and hurricanes in Mexico. In the part open to readers, it presents these extremes only as the work of a natural oscillation and never says that warming makes such droughts, fires and storms more frequent or more severe.
Leaves out the climate link
Minor
“The natural climate phenomenon, which began in the equatorial Pacific in the spring, has continued to gain strength, triggering extreme conditions in several regions around the globe: massive wildfires in Indonesia, historic drought in French Guiana, hurricanes in Mexico.”
Why this matters
Le Monde lists massive wildfires, historic drought and hurricanes and puts all of them down to a "natural climate phenomenon", with no word on warming anywhere in the text readers can see.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away believing these extremes are purely the product of a natural cycle, and that their record severity has nothing to do with human-caused warming.
The context
Human-caused warming has made drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe. El Niño now plays out on a warmer planet. The available text never says so, even in a single line.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
On the recordIt is unequivocal that human influence, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels, has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “warming”.
“Indonesia, for example, has been facing massive wildfires for several months, fueled by drought.”
Why this matters
Le Monde describes months of megafires "fueled by drought" and then gives the explanation only through the El Niño quote that follows. It adds no line on the warmer climate that loads fire weather.
The impression it gives
A reader believes Indonesia's drought and fires are simply "a hallmark of El Niño" and nothing more.
The context
Warming has made agricultural drought and fire weather more frequent and more severe. The article's own explanation stops at the natural cycle.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“These very dry conditions in the country are a hallmark of El Niño”
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)