Forecast for strong El Niño fans worries about global crops as Iran war bites

Forecasts for the strongest El Niño in a decade promise hotter, drier weather across Asia in the second half of 2026, hitting crops and food supplies while farmers grapple with fertilizer shortages and costly fuel caused by the Iran war. Japan’s weather bureau sees a 70% chance of El Niño emerging in the northern hemisphere summer, while China’s climate officials fear it could persist until year-end and India expects below-average monsoon rain for the first time in three years. “We are already seeing heat and dryness in parts of Australia and India,” said Chris Hyde, a meteorologist at weather intelligence…