Strong El Niño could bring wetter, stormier UK weather this winter
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 17:20 · Archive
El Niño, described as 'off the charts' by the UN weather agency, could bring wetter and stormier conditions to the UK this autumn and early winter.
The head of the UN's World Meteorological Organization has warned that this year's El Niño could be 'off the charts' – stronger than anything seen in the last four decades. The phenomenon occurs when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average, and the WMO forecasts record sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific during October through December.
El Niño typically increases the risk of floods, extreme heat, storms and drought around the world. Parts of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are already experiencing heavy rains and swelling rivers linked to the event, forcing thousands from their homes. Wildfires in Indonesia's Borneo island, worsening as El Niño intensifies the dry season, have also affected endangered orangutans.
The Met Office said in August that it expects El Niño's influence to increase the chances of wetter, stormier conditions for northwest Europe, including the UK, in the coming autumn and early winter. The UK is thousands of miles from the tropical Pacific, so it typically experiences less severe weather effects from El Niño than regions such as India, East Asia, South America, parts of Africa and the West Pacific.
How it is being reported
- El Nino forecast 'off the charts' as weather event linked to more snow in UKWeather experts say this year's El Nino could be 'off the charts', with potential cold snaps threatening to unleash snow, flooding, power cuts and damage from high windsThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 17:02
- How this year’s ‘off the charts’ El Niño could affect UK weather this winterEl Niño could be the strongest the world has seen in the last four decades, as experts warn the UK isn’t immune from its impactThe Independent · 22 Oct, 10:06
In this story: World Meteorological Organization · Met Office · UK · Argentina · Paraguay · Uruguay · Indonesia
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