UK faces wetter autumn and potential colder winter due to El Niño
UKPulse Local Desk
The UK Met Office forecasts a powerful El Niño developing in the Pacific Ocean could lead to a wet and stormy autumn and an increased risk of colder weather in north-west Europe later in winter.
- A powerful El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean, potentially the strongest since 1950.
- The UK Met Office indicates an increased risk of a wet and stormy autumn for the UK.
- There is also an increased risk of colder weather developing across north-west Europe later in the winter.
A powerful El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean, which the UK Met Office suggests could be the strongest in living memory. This climate pattern, occurring every two to seven years, can trigger significant shifts in global weather.
For the UK, this developing El Niño increases the risk of a wet and stormy autumn. Longer-range forecast models already show signs that this autumn and the early part of winter could be wetter than normal.
The Met Office also indicates an increased risk of colder weather developing later in the winter across north-west Europe due to the El Niño phenomenon. Sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are forecast to climb significantly, with some forecasts suggesting an unprecedented 4C above average.
Why this matters: El Niño events can lead to major shifts in global weather patterns, including drought, flooding, and wildfires, with impacts likely to be more severe in a warming world.