El Nino Watch

Why prepare on an island

On an island, a problem on the mainland or at sea can cut supplies for days. A strong El Nino plus the monsoon means drought, heat, haze, floods and rough seas can all happen within a year.

Preparedness

Why the Preparedness page matters more on Samui than in a city on the mainland:

  • Almost everything arrives by ferry. Rough seas (common in the northeast monsoon) stop the ferries.
  • The water system was already rationed in August 2026, before the El Nino peak.
  • Power cuts come with storms and with heat waves (air conditioning demand).
  • When everyone reacts at once, shops, ATMs, fuel stations and flights run out.

The page sizes a stock for your household (adults, children, days) and tracks what you already have. The categories follow the hazards: water, food, power, health, heat, haze, flood/storm, communication, money, departure plan, documents, home and pets.

Sources

Related

ENSO status now

ONI (NOAA CPC)
+1.80 °C, JJA 2026 (previous +1.39 °C)
RONI (NOAA CPC)
+1.36 °C, JJA 2026
Nino 3.4 weekly (NOAA CPC / OISST)
+3.0 °C anomaly, week of 16 Sep 2026 (SST 29.6 °C)