El Niño is being supersized before our eyes, scientists warn
El Niño is 'firmly established' and will continue to intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, experts have warned.
TL;DR
- El Niño is 'firmly established' and expected to intensify into a very strong event.
- Global impacts include floods, droughts, and extreme heat through February.
- Sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are significantly above average, some areas reaching 8°C higher than normal.
- Recent El Niño events have been nearly 40% stronger than in the past 1,000 years.
- The intensity of El Niño events is paralleling the warming of global temperatures.
- The UK can expect a cold and stormy winter due to atmospheric disruptions caused by El Niño.
- El Niño is a naturally occurring climate cycle that shifts between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) phases.