Extreme Weather Explained: El Niño, Climate Change, and the Science Behind the Headlines

Welcome to our 2026 summer series, "Extreme Weather Explained." To kick things off, host Dr. Lisa Patel sits down with Shel Winkley, the Senior Engagement Specialist and Meteorologist at Climate Central. Shel breaks down what a "super" El Niño could bring, the ways climate change is reshaping extreme events, and how health professionals can help people cut through the noise to understand these complex realities.

Mentioned in this episode:

Climate Central: https://www.climatecentral.org/

Billion Dollar Disasters Database: https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-services/billion-dollar-disasters

Join or support the Consortium here: https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/

Healthy Climate America is produced by Savannah Martincic. Our podcast intern is Isaias Segui. Our music was composed by James Harp.