Meteorologists are warning that a powerful El Niño weather pattern developing in the Pacific could drive global temperatures even higher later this year, with potential knock-on effects for UK summers and winters.

The alert comes as NASA satellites confirm that El Niño conditions are now underway, with unusually warm waters forming in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

The phenomenon, which typically occurs every two to seven years, is linked to widespread changes in global weather patterns, including increased rainfall in parts of the Americas and drought conditions in the western Pacific.

Experts say a strong event could also contribute to extreme heat across much of the world, including indirect impacts on the UK climate.

While the influence on Britain is not direct, scientists warn that a powerful El Niño can amplify global warming trends already pushing temperatures higher.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural climate cycle that shifts between a warming El Niño phase and a cooler La Niña phase. During El Niño, heat stored in the Pacific spreads across the ocean and transfers into the atmosphere, raising global surface temperatures for months at a time, reports the Daily Mail.

Although the cycle has existed for thousands of years, current measurements suggest Pacific sea temperatures are rising rapidly and could reach between 1.5°C and 2°C above normal in some regions.

Simon Culling, a data collector and investigator for the UK’s Tornado & Storm Research Organisation (TORRO), warned on social media that the developing system could influence UK weather patterns.

He wrote on X: “If the current predictions for the forthcoming El Niño phase are realised, what does this mean for the UK?

“It may mean hotter summers for both 2026 and 2027 and increases the risk of a significant cold spell in winter 2026/27. Let’s see what plays out.”

The warning comes after the UK saw its hottest June day on record, with 36.1°C recorded in Gosport, Hampshire.

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