Ammon News - A new phase of the natural El Niño weather pattern could begin in a matter of weeks, the UN has warned, boosting temperatures on a planet already under strain from climate change.

The World Meteorological Organization said this El Niño is likely to strengthen over the rest of 2026, driving more extreme weather around much of the globe.

Several forecasts from national weather agencies suggest it could end up as one of the strongest ever recorded - a possible so-called “super” El Niño.

Predicting the exact timing and strength of El Niño can be challenging, and scientists have been watching conditions in a tell-tale region of the central Pacific for clues.

El Niño forms when a switch in wind patterns allows warmer waters to spread across the tropical Pacific Ocean.

And while an El Niño event had been anticipated, many scientists believe this one could be unusually powerful.

“We're very confident that there's a big event coming,” said Prof Adam Scaife, head of monthly to decadal prediction at the UK Met Office. “It may even be a record event.”

BBC