British Columbia meteorologist says 'super' El Niño could bring record heat, floods, and droughts

A "super" El Niño is shaping up to be more than a climate buzzword. CBC British Columbia meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe has warned a potentially volatile stretch of heat, flooding, and drought may be coming.

Here's what to know

In a Sept. 13 TikTok video, Wagstaffe said the weather could be "record-breaking."

@cbcbritishcolumbia It's set to be a record-breaking few months of weather, driven by a "super" El Niño. As Johanna Wagstaffe explores, a natural surge of warm ocean water is colliding with a planet hotter than ever before, bringing more extreme heat, floods, and droughts. But this "super" El Niño could also help us prepare for what's coming. #el #nino #weather #cbcnews #britishcolumbia ♬ original sound - CBC British Columbia

The video's caption states that "a natural surge of warm ocean water is colliding with a planet hotter than ever before, bringing more extreme heat, floods, and droughts."

CityNews chief meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai explained "El Niño is a cycle that usually alternates every two to seven years." Depending on the region, it can shift rainfall patterns, increase the odds of intense heat, and worsen dry conditions or flood risks.

For British Columbia and other areas of Canada, it is reportedly likely to lead to a warmer, drier winter with "little to no snow packs in many of the expected areas."

More background

Wagstaffe's warning centered on the fact that a strong El Niño is taking shape in a much warmer world than the one many people remember from past decades. In other words, the usual climate cycle is now playing out against a different baseline.

That can translate into a messy mix of risks. Hotter conditions can strain power grids and raise health concerns, especially for older adults, outdoor workers, and people without reliable cooling. Drier stretches can stress water supplies and landscapes, while heavier rain can overwhelm drainage systems and increase flood threats.

The comments reflected that same sense of uncertainty. 

One viewer wrote, "It's supposed to be rainy in Jamaica... it's so hot. My God I have never seen summer weather in September." 

What can be done?

Seasonal forecasts can't stop extreme weather, but they can give people time to get ready before heat waves, smoke, heavy rain, or drought conditions worsen.

That can mean signing up for local emergency alerts, checking flood and wildfire risk information in your area, and reviewing evacuation routes. It may also be worth stocking up on drinking water, backup batteries, medications, and making a plan for pets and family members who may need extra help during outages or extreme heat.

For communities, preparation can include cooling centers, stronger public messaging, stormwater upgrades, and clearer emergency guidance tied to seasonal forecasts.

Where can I learn more?

These stories show how a strong El Niño could reshape weather well beyond British Columbia. They also help explain why forecasters are watching for heat, flooding, and drought all at once rather than treating them as separate risks.

• Across the Pacific, a rare "Super" El Niño is raising flood and drought fears worldwide.

• Forecast models show temperatures pushed to the extreme as ocean warming amplifies El Niño's reach.

• In the U.K., doctors are warning that record-breaking heat could intensify as El Niño develops.

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