An intensifying El Niño could affect potato storability, energy consumption and marketable returns long after the 2026 harvest is completed, according to a new information bulletin published by the North America Potato Storage Organization.
By Lukie Pieterse, Editor and Publisher, Potato News Today
The North America Potato Storage Organization (NAPSO) has published a new pre-webinar bulletin examining what the strengthening 2026–27 El Niño could mean for potato storage management and economics. The bulletin combines recent seasonal climate assessments with established potato-storage research, translating broad weather signals into practical considerations for growers and storage operators.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center reported on October 8 that El Niño had strengthened further, with the Niño 3.4 index reaching +2.1°C. NOAA placed the probability of the October–December event reaching historically exceptional strength at 83%, up from 75% in September. The World Meteorological Organization separately forecast that the event will continue intensifying towards a December peak and will probably persist through February 2027.
For North American potato-storage operators, warmer-than-normal seasonal conditions across many northern production regions are among the most important signals. Milder outside temperatures could reduce the number of hours during which ambient air can provide economical cooling, potentially increasing refrigeration, ventilation and electricity requirements. Regional precipitation patterns remain less certain, however, and could produce contrasting harvest and storage challenges.
NAPSO cautions that seasonal outlooks describe probabilities over large regions rather than guaranteed local outcomes. Storage decisions should therefore be based on the condition of individual lots, local weather and building data. Incoming pulp temperature, hydration, bruising, disease incidence, humidity, shrink, dormancy progression and refrigeration demand are among the factors operators are encouraged to monitor closely.
The bulletin has been published ahead of NAPSO’s planned November 19 webinar on the Economics of Storage. It argues that storage economics extend well beyond electricity costs: bruising, disease, shrink, quality downgrades, sprout control and shortened storage life can all reduce the quantity and value of marketable potatoes.
The full NAPSO bulletin, “El Niño and Potato Storage: What the 2026–27 Season Could Mean for Storage Economics,” can be read and downloaded on the NAPSO website.
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