During El Niño, a perfect storm of weather systems could spell disaster for the Great Barrier Reef

El Niño weather patterns increase the risk of compound climate hazards—including elevated sea temperatures, altered rainfall, and intensified storms—that collectively threaten the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's coast. Scientists warn that the simultaneous occurrence of these stressors during El Niño events can overwhelm the reef's resilience, accelerating coral bleaching and mortality. The convergence of warming ocean conditions with other meteorological factors creates conditions more damaging than any single hazard alone.