The climate pattern, which involves the warming of sea surface temperatures that usually occur every few years, is already firmly established and is expected to strengthen over the next few months.
Forecasters have warned it is almost certain that this year’s El Nino will intensify into a very strong event in the coming months and last until February next year.

The naturally occurring phenomenon describes the unusual warming of the Pacific Ocean and normally takes place irregularly every two to seven years and lasts nine to 12 months.
But this year’s has been forecast to be “exceptional” – having been “supersized” – emphasizing the need for climate action, according to the UN chief.

A very strong El Nino can significantly shift rainfall and temperature patterns worldwide and fuel extreme weather.

The current climate pattern is already firmly established and is expected to strengthen over the next few months, fuelled by exceptionally warm ocean conditions across the tropical Pacific, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said in an update on Thursday.

The body expects El Nino to peak towards the end of this year, though the climate impacts will continue well into next year.

Some scientists believe El Nino may have fuelled some of the extreme weather seen across Europe in recent years, with a paper in Nature in July linking the phenomenon with wildfires on the continent in 2025.