1877–1878 El Niño event

Meteorological event 1877 1878 >50 million people Asia, South America, North America, Africa The 1877–1878 El Niño event was likely the strongest El Niño on record. It contributed to widespread drought and famine in multiple countries, causing the death of more than 50 million people. Disasters associated with it include the Great Famine of 1876–1878 in India, the Grande Seca in Brazil, and the Northern Chinese Famine of 1876–1879. Development and strength Drought hitting many tropical and subtropical areas starting in 1875 and climatic events in the Indian and Atlantic oceans were related to the developing El Niño.Noll Ben 2026-05-12 A super El Niño wiped out millions of people in 1877. Are we better prepared now? https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/05/12/super-el-nino-1877-population-impacts/ 2026-05-27 The Washington Post en-US 0190-8286 In North America, the winter was exceptionally mild and was known as the Year without a winter.The Year Without a Winter: 1877-78 https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/1877_1878_winter.html 2026-05-27 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources enSeeley Mark 26 January 2024 1878 El Niño saw crops planted in February https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/1878-el-ni-o-saw-crops-planted-in-february https://web.archive.org/web/20250504204427/https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/1878-el-ni-o-saw-crops-planted-in-february 2025-05-04 2026-05-27 Farm Progress en live 2024-03-11 "Spring Starts Early As US Winter Was Warmest On Record" SEJ https://www.sej.org/headlines/spring-starts-early-us-winter-was-warmest-record 2026-05-27 Society of Environmental Journalists enOchenski George 2024-03-15 Politicians ignore reality as the world burns around them • Daily Montanan https://dailymontanan.com/2024/03/15/politicians-ignore-reality-as-the-world-burns-around-them/ 2026-05-27 Daily Montanan en-US The 1877–1878 event likely surpassed all modern El Niño events in intensity, although there is much uncertainty in the measurement, that prevents making that conclusion with certainty.Corp Pelmorex 2026-05-22 The Super El Niño that contributed to tens of millions of deaths https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/severe/the-super-el-nino-that-contributed-to-tens-of-millions-of-deaths 2026-05-27 The Weather Network enFlis Andrej 2026-05-07 Atmospheric Code Red: 2026 Super El Niño Now Trending Toward Record-Breaking Intensity https://www.severe-weather.eu/long-range-2/super-el-nino-2026-record-breaking-intensity-forecast-weather-impacts-united-states-canada-europe-fa/ 2026-05-27 Severe Weather Europe en-US The effects of the El Niño were compounded by other anomalous climatic conditions. The strongest Indian Ocean Dipole also occurred in 1877 and temperatures in the Atlantic were exceptionally high between 1877 and 1879. A 2020 study found the 1877–1878 El Niño event was not significantly stronger than those of 1982–1983, 1997–1998, and 2014–2016. Impact The event led to famines that killed more than 50 million people, about 3% of the global population of the time.Berdugo Sophie 2026-05-15 'The biggest El Niño event since the 1870s': 'Super' El Niño is now the most likely scenario by the end of this year — and the humanitarian cost could be huge https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/weather/the-biggest-el-nino-event-since-the-1870s-super-el-nino-is-now-the-most-likely-scenario-by-the-end-of-this-year-and-the-humanitarian-cost-could-be-huge 2026-09-20 Live Science en Famines occurred in Brazil (Grande Seca), China (Northern Chinese Famine of 1876–1879), India (Great Famine of 1876–1878), Africa, and other areas. According to Deepti Singh et al., it "was arguably the worst environmental disaster to ever befall humanity".Singh Deepti Seager Richard Cook Benjamin I. Cane Mark Ting Mingfang Cook Edward Davis Michael 2018-12-01 Climate and the Global Famine of 1876–78 https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/31/23/jcli-d-18-0159.1.xml Journal of Climate EN 31 23 9445–9467 10.1175/JCLI-D-18-0159.1 2018JCli...31.9445S 0894-8755 https://web.archive.org/web/20260521140614/https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/clim/31/23/jcli-d-18-0159.1.xml 2026-05-21 2026-05-27 live 2020-04-14 A horrific drought in the 1870s offers a warning for today https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/04/a-horrific-drought-in-the-1870s-offers-a-warning-for-today/ 2026-05-27 Yale Climate Connections en-US The impact was exacerbated by political and economic factors.Harlan Chico 2026-05-21 A Powerful El Niño Is Forming. If History Is a Guide, It Could Hit Hard. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/climate/el-nino-history-famine.html 2026-05-27 The New York Times en-US 0362-4331Marshall Michael 30 October 2018 A freak 1870s climate event caused drought across three continents https://www.newscientist.com/article/2183901-a-freak-1870s-climate-event-caused-drought-across-three-continents/ https://web.archive.org/web/20260124171214/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2183901-a-freak-1870s-climate-event-caused-drought-across-three-continents/ 2026-01-24 2026-05-27 New Scientist en-US live 2026-06-17 150 Years Ago, a Super El Niño Killed 50 Million People. The Next One Is Right Around the Corner. https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a71573365/super-el-nino-1877/ 2026-09-20 Popular Mechanics en-US See also Super El Niño events References Further reading Aceituno Patricio Prieto Maríadel del Rosario Solari María Eugenia Martínez Alejandra Poveda Germán Falvey Mark 2009-02-01 The 1877–1878 El Niño episode: associated impacts in South America https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-008-9470-5 Climatic Change en 92 3 389–416 10.1007/s10584-008-9470-5 2009ClCh...92..389A 1573-1480 10533/142372 free Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World Davis Mike 2001 Verso London 978-1859843826 Huang Boyin L’Heureux Michelle Hu Zeng-Zhen Yin Xungang Zhang Huai-Min 2020 How Significant Was the 1877/78 El Niño? https://repository.library.noaa.gov/ 2026-05-27 repository.library.noaa.gov en Category:Meteorological events in 1878 Category:Meteorological events in 1877 Category:Natural disasters in China Category:Natural disasters in India Category:Natural disasters in Brazil Category:El Niño–Southern Oscillation events Category:Weather events in China Category:Weather events in Brazil Category:Weather events in India Category:Famines in India Category:Famines in China Category:1800s in Brazil Category:1800s in India Category:1800s in China Category:1800s in Africa Category:Natural disasters in Africa Category:Weather events in Africa Category:Weather events in the United States