El Niño can quickly shift rainfall and heat patterns, with knock-on effects for food security, energy, human migration, and public health. But it is a well-known and predictable phenomenon. This means that there’s ample opportunity to prepare in advance.

In October 2024, Overpin Analytics & Advisory ran a policy simulation that put more than 90 U.S. interagency experts inside a realistic backcasted El Niño scenario. Participants identified challenges and opportunities for investment and action. These insights led to an internal interagency policy on El Niño that protected people and budgets for when anomalies arrive.