The El Niño event developing over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest in living memory.
The powerful natural climate phenomenon pushes up global temperatures and can increase the risks of extreme weather.
The UK Met Office warns that it is “very likely” to mean that 2027 is the hottest year on record globally.
There is growing evidence that weather patterns around the world are already being affected, with below-average monsoon rains in India and suppressed hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
The World Meteorological Organisation says there is “no evidence” that climate change increases the frequency or strength of El Niño events.
However, BBC News says this is an ongoing area of research and debate for scientists.
A 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – an international group of scientists – said that the intensity of El Niño appears to have increased since 1950, when compared with the period dating back to around 1400.
However, historical records show that El Niño has fluctuated significantly in its strength over past millennia so it is difficult to link this recent strengthening to global warming.
