Experts have warned that high winds linked to El Niño could cause widespread mortality among tree species in England. This follows a summer of extreme heat and drought that has left many trees weakened.
Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Kew Gardens, noted that trees have become less flexible and more brittle after not growing normally in the extreme conditions. He expressed concern about potential large impacts on trees this autumn if predicted extreme winds occur.
The UK's Met Office has indicated that the developing El Niño event is likely to be the strongest in over a century, with increased rainfall and storms forecast for the UK this autumn. Martin also suggested that dry weather followed by heavy rain could lead to root death, causing trees to fail at the root plate.
The impact of this year's weather is particularly affecting older trees, with England's ancient oaks reportedly dying. Martin predicts significant mortality at Kew and across the south-east, potentially worse than the 400 trees lost at Kew after the 2022 heatwave.