Also known as: Super El Niño
News reports
Order a long-term news report on El Niño
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
New Era
… She said the grain will be added to the national strategic grain reserve ahead of the anticipated El Niño. …
N$180m for FMD and N$5m for sanitary padsThe Namibian
… Shafudah also announced that the government has allocated N$40 million to the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (Amta) to buy surplus grain from local farmers ahead of the anticipated El Niño. …
Agribank lends N$367m in five monthsWindhoek Observer
… The World Meteorological Organization has indicated a near-certain probability that El Niño conditions will persist into early 2027, threatening crop yields and regional food security. …
Standard Bank projects inflation to climb to 5.2% in 2027The Namibian
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Namibia has forced the government to reconsider plans to support the livestock sector should Namibia be hit by the prevailing El Niño climate pattern. …
FMD derails Namibia’s El Niño plansInformanté
… The two countries also agreed to explore ways of supporting Namibia’s preparedness to mitigate the effects of El Niño within the framework of their existing cooperation. …
Namibia, Germany deepen development partnershipWindhoek Observer
… The lawyers also raised concerns about the potential effects of El Niño conditions, including below-normal rainfall, reduced grazing and water shortages, which could compound the impact of the livestock restrictions. …
FMD puts kapana and lobola in limboNew Era
… She also warned that climate risks such as the looming El Niño weather crisis could further disrupt the country’s agricultural supply chains. …
Namibia imports 87% wheat, 96% of fruitsThe Namibian
… Last week, the Namibia Meteorological Service warned that El Niño conditions were expected to strengthen from October. …
Ministry, Unam join forces on agriculture researchNew Era
… Rapidly intensifying El Niño conditions are expected to bring above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall between October and March. …
Impending El Niño signals droughtInformanté
… The Namibia Meteorological Services announced that the anticipated conditions are a result of the rapid intensification of El Niño conditions over the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. …
Hotter, drier season ahead for Namibia from October 2026 to March 2027The 2026/27 Mid-Year Budget Review allocated nearly N$180 million to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which threatens livestock farmers, rural livelihoods and export markets. An additional N$5 million was set aside for the National Sanitary Pad Initiative, and N$40 million for the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency to purchase surplus grain for the national strategic grain reserve.
5 hours ago · New Era →
The 2026/27 Mid-Year Budget Review allocated nearly N$180 million to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease, which threatens livestock farmers, rural livelihoods and export markets. An additional N$5 million was set aside for the National Sanitary Pad Initiative, and N$40 million for the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency to purchase surplus grain for the national strategic grain reserve.
5 hours ago · New Era →
The Agricultural Bank of Namibia provided N$366.9 million in loans between April and August to support the agricultural sector, with portions directed to women, young people, and communal farmers, while the government allocated N$40 million to buy surplus grain for national strategic reserves ahead of anticipated El Niño weather.
22 hours ago · The Namibian →
Standard Bank's group economist projects headline inflation will rise to approximately 5.2% in 2027 from an expected average above 4.35% in 2026, driven by sustained global oil prices above US$100 per barrel and domestic food supply threats including a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak affecting roughly 29,000 animals.
16 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has forced the Namibian government to reconsider its plans to support the livestock sector during expected El Niño conditions, which could bring hotter and drier than normal rainy season. The outbreak has disrupted livestock auctions and sales, complicating farmers' ability to reduce herds in advance of potential drought.
7 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Following a Strategic Dialogue in Opuwo on 29 and 30 September 2026, Namibia and Germany agreed to strengthen their development partnership, focusing on climate-resilient water security, biodiversity, livelihoods, green energy transition, and skills development. Germany has been Namibia's largest single development partner for over 35 years and is the largest recipient of German development cooperation in Africa on a per-capita basis.
7 October 2026 · Informanté →
A nationwide suspension of livestock movement, trade and slaughtering following Foot-and-Mouth Disease detection in the //Kharas Region has left kapana vendors and families preparing customary events uncertain about cattle slaughter for lobola and funerals. Lawyers representing Affirmative Repositioning's Job Amupanda have demanded clarification from the acting agriculture minister on the scope and legal basis of the restrictions.
25 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ruthy Masake warned that Namibia's heavy reliance on food imports is unacceptable and exposes the country to volatile global commodity prices and food security threats. During the 2025/26 season, Namibia imported more than 64% of its maize, 87% of its wheat, 64% of its pearl millet, 46% of its vegetables, and 96% of its fruits consumed domestically.
21 September 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform and the University of Namibia have signed an agreement to strengthen research in agriculture, food security, fisheries, water and land reform. The partnership aims to link university research with government policies and programmes, focusing on increasing agricultural production, helping farmers adapt to climate change, managing fisheries and aquatic resources, and supporting land reform.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Rapidly intensifying El Niño conditions are expected to bring above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall across Namibia from October 2026 to March 2027, according to the Namibia Meteorological Service. Sea surface temperature anomalies have risen to 1.8°C as of mid-August, with major global climate prediction centres expecting the El Niño event to potentially exceed 3.0°C, placing it in the 'very strong' category.
8 September 2026 · New Era →
The Namibia Meteorological Services forecasts above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall from October 2026 to March 2027, driven by rapidly intensifying El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Maximum temperature anomalies are projected to reach about 1°C above average over eastern areas and up to 2°C above normal in the extreme south-east.
8 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibia Meteorological Service warns of below-normal rainfall and temperatures up to 3°C above average for the 2026/27 season, driven by an intensifying El Niño expected to create conditions similar to the severe 2015/16 season. NOAA forecasts a 69% chance that October–December 2026 becomes the strongest El Niño since 1950, with above 90% probability of a very strong El Niño during the 2026/27 season.
8 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A severe El Niño forming in the Pacific Ocean could bring punishing heat and drought to southern Africa while triggering excessive rainfall and flooding in parts of the east, threatening harvests, water supplies, and electricity generation. A climatologist warns governments must repair water infrastructure, prepare food-security programmes, and strengthen disaster-response systems before the crisis takes hold.
8 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Meteorological Service reports that the rainfall season beginning in October is expected to be drier and hotter than normal due to rapidly intensifying El Niño conditions, with sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific observed at 1.8°C above normal by mid-August and projected to potentially exceed 3°C.
7 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Windhoek's rainfall has been extraordinarily variable over 120 years of records, averaging 363 mm annually. The article argues that water crises result not from drought alone but from inadequate system resilience to absorb prolonged dry periods, particularly as the city grows rapidly.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Asoli Progressive Party has called on the government to disclose its preparedness measures for a potentially severe drought expected during the 2026/27 rainy season due to an intensifying El Niño climate pattern. Party leader Josef Kauandenge warns that the phenomenon could severely affect farmers and livestock and criticizes the government's silence on mitigation strategies.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Amnesty International reports that Namibia's immigration and refugee frameworks fail to protect vulnerable Angolan women and children displaced by drought, leaving them facing arrest, deportation, and lack of access to healthcare, education, shelter, water, and documentation. The organisation characterises the situation as a human rights crisis driven by climate-related disaster rather than irregular migration.
4 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
According to the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum in Swakopmund, Namibia is expected to experience below-normal rainfall during the October 2026 to March 2027 period, with high confidence in the forecast for much of the broader southern African region and generally above-normal temperatures.
29 August 2026 · Informanté →
The 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum, held in Swakopmund from 25 to 28 August 2026, brought together climate experts and sector specialists to review the 2025/26 rainfall season and prepare for the 2026/27 season through sector-specific planning and translation of climate forecasts into preparedness measures.
29 August 2026 · Informanté →
The 33rd Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum warns that most SADC countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, will likely receive below-normal rainfall between October 2026 and March 2027, with above-average temperatures expected to compound water shortages and pressure on agriculture.
27 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The UN World Food Programme warns that El Niño, potentially the strongest in 70 years, could push about 50 million people into acute hunger before the end of 2027, adding to the 225 million already in acute food insecurity across 45 countries. Central and South America, the Caribbean, and southern Africa are likely to be worst affected, while south and south-east Asia may face reduced rainfall threatening agriculture.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia imports about 70% of its food and faces severe food insecurity risks from a developing "Super El Niño" forecast for October 2026 to March 2027, which could bring drought conditions and crop failure similar to the devastating 2023/24 El Niño. The World Food Programme warned that lower agricultural output across Southern Africa could sharply worsen food insecurity in the region, with over 117,000 households already receiving food assistance in July.
19 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's electricity and water subsector is projected to expand by 4.9% in 2026, down from 12.6% growth in 2025, partly due to anticipated El Niño impacts. Construction activity is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2026, a downward revision of 3 percentage points from earlier forecasts, following exceptionally strong 20.2% growth in 2025.
12 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →