El Niño expected to be most intense in over a century, according to UK Met Office

This natural, temporary phenomenon, which occurs every two to seven years, exacerbates human-caused global warming, leading to extreme weather events. Adam Scaife, Head of Long-Range Forecasts at the Met Office, stated that he has never seen such a phenomenon developing in their forecasts, anticipating a peak exceeding three degrees Celsius in sea surface temperature increase in a reference area of the Pacific, which is unprecedented in modern climate records. The United Nations also warned of a rapid strengthening of El Niño, expecting it to reach "strong intensity" between July and September, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather globally.

The consequences are expected to be particularly severe around the Tropics, with drastic droughts in South America and the Western Pacific, but disruptions will also be felt in regions like the United Kingdom, where increased precipitation and storms are anticipated around November, as well as across Northwest Europe. The magnitude of El Niño could make 2027 the warmest year on record, with its primary impact felt the year after its onset.