The current El Niño could become the most intense in more than a century, the UK’s Met Office warned on Friday.
Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office, told the BBC he had never seen such a pattern emerging in forecasts. He said the event was expected to peak at more than 3 °C, something he described as unprecedented in the modern climate record.
The strongest effects are expected in tropical regions, where El Niño often brings major shifts in rainfall and temperature. But north-west Europe may also feel the impact. The Met Office said there are already signs of increased rainfall and more storms in the UK around November.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon caused by warming sea surface temperatures along the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It can trigger droughts, floods and record temperatures around the world. Some regions typically become drier, while others see heavier rainfall.
Experts believe El Niño could help make next year the hottest year on record, as its full effects are usually felt most strongly in the year after it develops.
