Indonesia experienced widespread drought caused by El Ni\u00f1o in 2015<\/p>\n
The El Ni\u00f1o event that is developing over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest in living memory, the Met Office has warned.<\/p>\n
The powerful natural climate phenomenon pushes up global temperatures and can increase the risks of extreme weather.<\/p>\n
Added to the effects of human-induced climate change, the Met Office is warning that it is "very likely" to mean 2027 is the hottest year on record.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o could put the UK at greater risk of a wet, stormy autumn.<\/p>\n
"We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event", said Prof Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the UK Met Office.<\/p>\n
"I have never seen an El Ni\u00f1o signal this intense in our forecasts."<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o is a naturally occurring weather pattern, which happens about every two to seven years, lasting for around a year.<\/p>\n
Trade winds that typically blow from east to west across the Pacific Ocean can weaken or even reverse, allowing warm water to spread eastwards.<\/p>\n
Heat is released from the ocean into the atmosphere, lifting global temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns.<\/p>\n
Scientists declare an El Ni\u00f1o when sea surface temperatures in a key area of the Pacific are 0.5C or more above average.<\/p>\n
Current measurements show that they are well over 2C above normal.<\/p>\n
Latest forecasts from the Met Office suggest that these temperature anomalies could exceed 3C later this year as El Ni\u00f1o nears its peak.<\/p>\n
This would be unprecedented in records going back to 1950, and probably the strongest event since the 19th century.<\/p>\n