El Niño set to bring record heat and extreme weather to UK
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 07:13 · Archive
El Niño is forecast to persist until at least 2027, bringing record heat and extreme weather to the UK and raising mortality risks globally.
El Niño, a phenomenon linked to climate change, occurs when sea temperatures in the eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the long-term average. The current event has surpassed expected temperature rises and reached record-breaking levels, with the World Meteorological Agency warning it will strengthen further and persist until at least 2027.
For the UK, the Met Office forecasts 2026 could be the hottest year on record, with an 'unprecedented' El Niño event described as 'the largest since the 19th century'. Britons may experience extreme drought in summer followed by particularly intense winter flooding, stormier conditions, heavier rainfall, and increased risks of cold snaps, frost, power cuts and ice damage in the New Year.
Globally, the impacts are predicted to be severe. Dr Colin Carlson of Yale University and Prof Christopher Callahan of Indiana University have warned of 'pandemic-scale mortality'. Research by the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab suggests El Niño could cause as many as 451,000 excess deaths between June 2026 and February 2027 from extreme heat alone, with additional epidemics of dengue fever, cholera and other infectious diseases likely to occur simultaneously. Beyond health impacts, the event is expected to drive up UK supermarket prices for essentials including chocolate, coffee and rice.
How it is being reported
- How 'Godzilla' El Niño threat could send chocolate and coffee prices soaring in UKA supersized El Niño could have a huge impact on the UK in the coming monthsDaily Express · 14 Nov, 07:00
- What El Nino will mean for UK in 2027 as experts warn of 500,000 deathsEl Nino has already surpassed the expected rise of +3CThe Independent · 13 Nov, 11:31
In this story: El Niño · UK · World Meteorological Agency · Met Office · Yale University · Indiana University · University of Chicago · Pacific Ocean
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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