Londoners heading abroad this winter are being urged to check the latest travel advice as a powerful El Niño raises the prospect of extreme weather around the world.

The global climate phenomenon is expected to strengthen towards the end of 2026 and could affect conditions in destinations popular with many British holidaymakers.

Exactly what impact El Niño will have remains uncertain, and forecasters stress that it does not guarantee particular weather in any one location.

The UK Government Office for Science said that the current El Niño event is forecast to peak in December and could continue until 2027.

“Impacts of El Nino will likely be felt first with forecasted dry conditions in India and southern Asia, Central America, and the Sahel region in Africa from June through to October,” the Government Office for Science said.

“Forecasts also predict a drought in the current summer monsoon season. As the El Nino event develops, impacts will next be seen in the West Pacific, East Africa, Australia and South America.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued or updated weather-related travel advice for a number of destinations, with warnings ranging from flooding and landslides to tropical storms and severe travel disruption.

For Londoners planning a Christmas getaway or winter holiday, it’s worth checking now how your travel plans could be affected.

Here’s the latest advice for some of the destinations that could see unsettled conditions.

People heading to Peru have been warned to prepare for potentially severe weather linked directly to El Niño.

The FCDO says that from late 2026 until April 2027, the phenomenon is expected to bring heavy rainfall, with the possibility of flooding, landslides and mudslides.

The conditions could lead to road closures and disruption to transport and essential services.

Travellers have been advised to keep an eye on local weather forecasts, news reports and official road alerts before travelling.

Londoners travelling to Ecuador have also been warned about the risk of extreme weather, with authorities issuing a red alert ahead of the 2026 to 2027 El Niño.

The FCDO says unusually heavy rainfall could cause flooding and landslides as well as disruption to transport and other services.

Higher temperatures are also possible.

Ecuador's rainy season normally runs from October to May, meaning anyone visiting over Christmas, New Year or the early months of 2027 should keep a close eye on local conditions.

Travellers are being advised to monitor weather reports and follow instructions from local authorities.

Holidaymakers heading from London to Japan this winter should also be aware of the potential for severe weather.

Japan is experiencing the same powerful El Niño, with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting unusually high sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific.

However, the FCDO's current warnings for Japan are broader weather advice rather than a specific El Niño alert.

Its guidance warns that tropical cyclones can affect Japan between June and December, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides.

Londoners travelling towards the end of the typhoon season are advised to monitor forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Agency and follow any evacuation orders issued by local authorities.

Anyone heading to Japan for a ski holiday later in the winter should also check forecasts and snow conditions before travelling, as the precise impact of El Niño on the country's winter weather remains uncertain.

India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, has warned that the world could face a “major food crisis” in the coming months, as the effects of a “super” El Niño are compounded by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The FCDO also warns visitors to India to be prepared for extreme weather.

Heavy monsoon rain can cause flooding and landslides, while tropical cyclones can affect coastal areas and cause major disruption to transport and other services.

Cyclones are a particular risk on India's east coast between September and December.

While the current FCDO advice is not a specific El Niño warning, Londoners heading to India as the weather phenomenon strengthens should check local forecasts and official advice before setting off.

Londoners heading to California should also keep an eye on forecasts as the US winter approaches.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, allowing authorities to mobilise resources in preparation for this winter’s El Niño storm season.

“We are preparing for this El Nino early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” Newsom said.

California can experience periods of intense winter rainfall capable of triggering flooding and landslides, although it is too early to say exactly how El Niño will affect the state this winter.

Travellers should monitor warnings from local authorities, check conditions before making long journeys and make sure their travel insurance provides appropriate cover.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern caused by unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean.

The unusually strong El Niño this year has been dubbed a “Godzilla” because of its scale, with concerns it could affect weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere and increase the chances of disruption to the polar vortex.

Research from the US government’s NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory has found that El Niño “tends to promote the breakdown of the polar vortex, especially in late winter”.

The polar vortex is a vast band of winds high above the Arctic that helps contain some of the coldest air around the North Pole.

When it weakens or becomes disrupted, Arctic air can spill much farther south, potentially bringing spells of unusually cold weather to parts of Europe and North America.

This could increase the risk of bitterly cold winds and snow across Britain.

Londoners have been advised to keep at least three days’ worth of food and other emergency essentials at home amid growing concerns over the event.

Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle has warned that the phenomenon could increase the potential for extreme and unsettled weather, including wetter conditions and a heightened risk of localised flooding.