El Niño Is Rapidly Intensifying — What the Latest Forecast Means for the UK

El Niño has officially returned, and the latest el nino forecast points to rapid strengthening across the tropical Pacific. The World Meteorological Organization says the event could reshape temperature and rainfall patterns during the second half of 2026.

That does not mean every country will experience the same weather, or that one climate pattern determines individual storms. However, a strong event can shift global risks enough to affect heat, drought, flooding, harvests and prices far beyond the Pacific.