As A 'Godzilla' El Niño Brews, Scientists Share What's Concerning Them Most Right Now

The useful part

A 'Godzilla' El Niño is brewing – and scientists are concerned about how the weather phenomenon is set to impact the UK and wider world. The phenomenon develops every few years, and involves the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean becoming hotter than normal. An El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average.

How it works

• As of 19 September, these temperatures were at a record-breaking 3.05°C above average.
• The event isn't expected to peak until December, so it's likely we'll see them rise even more – some forecasts suggest they might reach nearer 4°C.
• For the UK, it's likely we'll experience wetter, stormier weather this autumn and possibly cooler, drier weather in the winter as a result of El Niño.
• Scientists share their concerns over El Niño's potential impact El Niño, which is a natural part of our climate system, shifts r...

Details worth keeping

This year temperatures are ramping up to never-seen-before extremes.