ENVIRONMENT
Seasonal El Niño droughts threaten Colombia’s electric grid
Power lines in the Colombian Amazon. Photo: Javier Crespo/Shutterstock
Climate researchers warn that the equatorial Pacific Ocean is rapidly transitioning from a neutral state to El Niño, a cyclical warming phase of sea surface temperatures in the region, in contrast to the cooling La Niña phase that took place between 2024 and 2025.
Fishermen off the Pacific coast have followed the El Niño-La Niña pattern for centuries, and climate scientists now study it in more detail, so its effects are well known. During the El Niño phase, countries like Peru face heavier rainfall and flooding risks, while others like Colombia and Venezuela face increased risks of drought and fires.
Even if this year’s El Niño might…
🔒 This was a free preview; the rest is behind our paywall
Don’t miss out! Upgrade to unlock full access. The process takes only seconds with Apple Pay or Stripe. Become a member.
Why you should subscribe
We’re here for readers who want to truly understand Brazil and Latin America — a region too often ignored or misrepresented by the international media.
Since 2017, our reporting has been powered by paid subscribers. They’re the reason we can keep a full-time team of journalists across Brazil and Argentina, delivering sharp, independent coverage every day.
If you value our work, subscribing is the best way to keep it going — and growing.
Interested in advertising with us? Get in touch.
Need a special report? We can do it.
Have an idea for an article or column? Pitch us
