The worst Super El Niño on record could disrupt travel for months. Here’s how to prepare

EMERGENCYWeatherAdd TopicThe worst Super El Niño on record could disrupt travel for months. Here’s how to prepareFrom refundable bookings to smarter flight connections, experts share practical ways to protect your travel plansJamie Davis SmithSept. 30, 2026, 10:15 a.m. ETHear this storyA rare Super El Niño is expected to cause tumultuous travel conditions through the winter and into Spring 2027.Travelers may experience disruptions like heavy rain, flight-delaying storms, and variable snow conditions.Experts advise travelers to be flexible, book refundable fares, and allow for longer connection times.— Our editors and readers independently select what you see on 10BEST. When you buy through a link on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

When planning a trip, weather is almost always top of mind. Usually, the forecast follows a predictable pattern and doesn’t require too much analysis: it’s nearly always rainy in London in the winter and sunny in the Caribbean all summer long.

However, sometimes weather patterns can change so dramatically that travelers may want to rethink where they go, how they plan, and what they pack. Thanks to an impending Super El Niño, the next several months are shaping up to be one of the most tumultuous travel seasons in history.

Here’s what every traveler needs to know.

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Many travelers know that an El Niño may spell trouble, but don’t fully understand why. El Niños occur “when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal for a persistent period of time,” explains Alex Wilson, a meteorologist with The Weather Group. On average, these conditions occur every two to seven years, changing weather patterns enough to be noticed without causing significant disruptions.

However, once every decade or two, these changes are extreme. “At last check, water temperatures are more than 3 degrees Celsius above normal,” creating conditions for a rare Super El Niño, Wilson says. Since 1950, there have been only three other Super El Niños, and the Climate Prediction Center is forecasting this year’s will be the worst in recorded history.

The impact of this year’s Super El Niño is already being felt, and conditions are expected to intensify. Travelers can expect wild weather throughout the winter and into Spring 2027, says Jason Nappi, meteorologist and founder of Jason Nappi Weather.

Nevertheless, it’s hard to predict exactly how long the Super El Niño will last. Weather conditions may return to their baseline earlier or later than expected. “There is no firm date when its influence simply switches off,” Nappi cautions.

Travel for the next six months may be chaotic. “Heavy rain affecting roads and outdoor itineraries in wetter regions, storms disrupting flights, and variable mountain snow conditions” may disrupt travel plans, Nappi says. Even those banking on a quieter-than-usual hurricane season may still be affected, since individual storms can still form.

Moreover, even though warmer and drier weather may sound appealing, Nappi cautions that “fire restrictions and smoke conditions” may occur in areas with prolonged dry conditions.

As concerning as a Super El Niño sounds, Nappi doesn’t recommend changing travel plans based on a headline. “El Niño changes the odds for the season. The forecast for your destination and travel dates should guide your decisions,” he says.

The key to successful travel during a Super El Niño season is flexibility. “I recommend flexible arrangements where practical, extra time for important connections, and a backup plan for outdoor activities,” Nappi says. “Someone flying to meet a cruise or attend an event should consider how a weather delay could affect the rest of the itinerary,” and build in an extra day or two in case of delays, he recommends.

With wild weather on the horizon, even budget travelers should consider booking refundable fares and accommodations. “With a season like this, the ability to shift dates without a penalty is worth more than a marginally cheaper non-refundable rate,” advises Slava Shirokov, CEO and founder of Rail Ninja.

Tight connections for flights or onward trains are always risky, but cutting it close is even riskier in the midst of a Super El Niño, Shirokov says. Even if your destination isn’t affected, your plane may be coming from somewhere with extreme weather resulting in delays. It’s smart to build itineraries with longer connection times to increase the odds you (and your luggage) make it to your destination on time.

Nappi recommends checking forecasts for your departure point, connecting airports and destination during the week before travel. Then, reassess as departure approaches, he says. “Follow local weather alerts during the trip. Mountain travelers should check road and mountain conditions, while boaters should check wind and wave forecasts,” he advises.

Even travelers who are used to planning everything themselves may want to use a travel advisor until the Super El Niño subsides. “When weather disrupts thousands of trips at once, you don’t want to be figuring out Plan B alone. A good travel advisor isn’t just there to book the trip. Their real value shows when flights are canceled, and an itinerary has to be rebuilt quickly. When everyone else is waiting on hold, having a travel advisor who can help find alternatives can save valuable time and stress,” says John Rose, Chief Risk Advisor for Altour.

El Niño-specific travel insurance doesn’t exist (yet), but you can take steps to protect yourself. Every travel insurance policy is different, so review the terms carefully before purchasing. Typically, travel insurance only covers the specific events outlined in the policy, such as cancellations, delays, evacuation, or disruptions due to severe weather, Jones explains.

“A bad forecast or fear of traveling generally isn’t enough to trigger standard trip-cancellation coverage,” he says. Your timing matters too. “Don’t wait until a storm is already making headlines to think about insurance,” Jones says. Once a storm has been named or a wildfire is underway, it’s typically too late to insure your trip.

For maximum flexibility, consider Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. CFAR plans tend to be significantly more expensive than standard insurance policies, and travelers usually must purchase them shortly after booking a trip. However, this is the only type of plan that truly covers cancellation for any reason, including having second thoughts because of the threat of bad weather.

It’s always a good idea to keep essentials like medication, charging cables, a change of clothes, and important documents in your carry-on rather than in a checked suitcase. However, with an increased risk of weather-related luggage delays, Jones says packing smartly is especially important. Here’s some gear to consider:

When heavy rain or snow is in the forecast, I like to use dry bags to keep important items safe. I use a dry bag for my travel documents, phone, laptop, and anything else that could be damaged by water. I like this set of three to ensure I have a variety of sizes to throw in my backpack.

I wear a smartwatch nearly every day and appreciate features that can come in handy in an emergency. I like that the Venu 4 is water-resistant, has GPS capabilities, a built-in flashlight, and can receive texts and calls when it’s too wet to use my phone.

When wild weather strikes, an ordinary raincoat won’t do. The Arc’teryx Beta AR is the gold standard of rain protection and the perfect choice for travelers who don’t want some rain to stop them from enjoying their trip. It comes in men’s and women’s styles.

When a Super El Niño hits, a raincoat alone might not be enough to keep you dry. You need to pay attention to your bottom half, too. The North Face Antora Rain Pants are a great choice to keep on hand to wear over your regular pants when storms roll through, or when you need another layer to stay warm.

If the power goes out and your phone is dead, don’t panic. Keep a portable emergency radio in your car or hotel room so you can stay connected. The device also includes an emergency flashlight, rescue siren, NOAA weather scanning capabilities, and ports for charging portable devices.

When wet weather is forecast, it’s important to protect your feet. Merrell’s Chelsea boots, available in men’s and women’s styles, keep me dry without sacrificing style.

The current Super El Niño is likely to wreak havoc in some parts of the world and bring better-than-usual weather to others. Meteorologists are doing their best to predict what will happen, where and when.

However, because the conditions that cause a Super El Niño interact with other atmospheric conditions, there may still be surprises, cautions Jason Samenow, Chief Meteorologist, Capital Weather. As a result, you should check the expected weather conditions for your destination for the time you want to travel before making any travel decisions.

Thanks to this year’s Super El Niño, some regions are likely to see more precipitation than usual, including rain and storms. Wetter conditions are expected across much of the southern United States, including the Gulf Coast and Southeast, Nappi says. “The winter outlook also favors wetter conditions in California and along parts of the East Coast,” he explains. If it’s cold enough, this could mean heavy snow. Parts of South America, such as coastal Ecuador and northwestern Peru, may also be wetter than usual, Nappi explains.

However, the Super El Niño may be good news for travel elsewhere. For example, the Northern United States is expected to be warmer than usual. In the Caribbean, Nappi expects reduced hurricane activity, which could make this winter a great time for an island vacation. Additionally, Indonesia, parts of Australia and southern Africa may be drier than usual, he says.

As concerning as a Super El Niño sounds, Nappi doesn’t recommend changing travel plans based on a headline. “El Niño changes the odds for the season. The forecast for your destination and travel dates should guide your decisions,” he says.

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