The climate phenomenon known as El Niño is set to have a major impact on weather in the UK throughout the coming months.
The Met Office has predicted that this year’s “unprecedented” event, expected to be the strongest “in living memory”, will cause a stormy autumn and winter before the record-breaking heat continues.
This is expected to come after a cooler end to August, with increased rain after an extended summer dry spell. September brings the possibility of another heatwave with warnings that temperatures could rise again to as high as 34°C.
Could El Niño make next year even hotter?
The naturally occurring phenomenon known as El Niño, which can drive up global temperatures and is brewing in the Pacific, could be the strongest in living memory, the Met Office has warned.
What is El Niño?
It is a climate phenomenon which occurs in the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years.
Normally, trade winds blow east to west across the equator – during and El Niño period, these weaken or reverse.
This pushes up global temperatures as warmth is taken from the ocean into the atmosphere.
El Niño’s impact has already been seen
It has already started to affect weather systems in other parts of the world, with below-average monsoons in India and suppressed hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean. In the UK, El Niño is usually felt later in winter.
A particularly strong El Niño coupled with global warming has left scientists worried that 2027 could be even warmer.
El Niño is strongest in living memory
We should be clear that this is an unprecedented event. I have never seen an El Niño signal this intense in our forecasts.
Professor Adam Scaife, head of
long-range forecasting, the Met Office
Risk of most intense El Niño in 1,000 years
- El Niño is declared when the sea temperature in the tropical eastern Pacific rises 0.5 °C above the long-term average.
- But currently it’s over 2°C and could reach 3°C later this year.
- Some have suggested it could go above 4°C – meaning it would be the strongest El Nino in the last 500-1,000 years.
Next year could be hottest ever
The precise effect El Niño has on global weather can be unpredictable. But Met Office climate scientist Dr Nick Dunstone told the BBC average global temperatures could rise next year. This would make 2027 the hottest year on record, after 2024.
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Why children’s eyesight is getting worse – and what parents can do about it
More and more children are becoming
short-sighted, but scientists have discovered it can be reversed through behaviour change.
Rates of short-sightedness are rising across the world – and we now know why
- In the UK, short-sightedness is rising at a rate of 0.7 per cent per year.
- This means that by 2050 about four in 10 British children will be short-sighted and need glasses.
- But contrary to old myths, we are not (exactly) becoming more short-sighted because of too much screentime.
Short-sightedness is linked to the outdoors
Large research studies have found a lack of time outside causes short-sightedness. This could be because children are simply not using their long-distance vision as their eyeballs develop.
The other theory scientists are considering is that our eyes need the brighter light that we are exposed to outdoors to develop properly.
How to combat
short-sightedness
- Randomised trials suggest more outdoor time reduced the development of new short-sightedness.
- For children who were already
short-sighted, using eyedrops with atropine every night until age 16 helped reduce the degree of
short-sightedness. Specialised glasses can also help.
Snake believed to be first in the world to benefit from human cancer treatment
A 40kg python at Chester Zoo is believed to have become the first snake in the world to benefit from a cancer treatment normally used on humans.
What you need to know
The 15ft reticulated python, which is named after Jodie Foster, underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a malignant tumour.
However, last year, the growth returned, and vets put her under the knife, removing the tumour and part of her jawbone before administering electrochemotherapy to target any remaining cancerous cells.
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A successful surgery
- Vets conducted a final check this week and found no signs of the cancer returning.
- The tumour had stopped Jodie from eating properly but now her appetite has returned to normal.
Ian Ashpole, veterinary officer at Chester Zoo, said: “A few months ago, we genuinely didn’t know whether she’d survive. Now she’s behaving exactly as we’d hope.”
How beavers kept fields green despite summer of drought
A new scheme to restore a river to its natural state and reintroduce beavers to create wetlands has shown how landscapes can become more resilient to drought, the National Trust has said.
How beavers helped
Twenty five wild beavers now live across the river catchment and have created wetlands and ponds that hold water in the landscape to protect against flooding.
A beaver and wetland project officer, a ranger and local volunteers monitor the beavers and provide information to those who have concerns about their impact.
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Local farmers have benefited from resilient wetland grazing habitats, with foliage, shade and water helping livestock to cope in the heat.
Wildlife such as water voles, trout and grass snakes are thriving and new species including green sandpiper, common crane and white stork have appeared.
The UK’s longest river could soon run dry. Why this could have been avoided
The River Severn and the reservoir feeding it are running low after this summer’s hot weather, posing a risk to wildlife.
World’s oldest person celebrates 117th birthday
Ethel Caterham, is celebrating her 117th birthday, after a year of “many firsts” in which she held hands with the King and stroked a llama.
A meeting with the King
Caterham became the oldest living person in the world after the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas in April 2025.
- She was visited by King Charles in September last year and during the meeting, she recollected his 1969 investiture as the Prince of Wales, saying: “All the girls were in love with you and wanted to marry you.”
A wonderful life
Caterham was born on 21 August, 1909 in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire and is the last surviving subject of Edward VII, who died in May 1910.
In 1927, she travelled to India, working as an au pair to a military family for around three years.
She met her husband Norman, a lieutenant colonel in the British army, in 1931 and later raised two daughters, both of whom have since died.
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How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
What is El Niño – and its ‘super’ version?
El Niño is the biggest fluctuation in the world’s climate system, known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
Typically occurring once every two to seven years and lasting nine to 12 months, an El Niño event is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average, with varied effects on rainfall patterns and temperatures across the globe.
A “super El Niño” is broadly defined as when tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures reach 1.5-2°C, or more, above average. These events are rare: there have been only five since 1950 with the most recent occurring in 2015-16, resulting in 2016 becoming the hottest year on record at that time.
The Met Office’s forecasts suggest this year’s warming will exceed 3°C.
“El Niño occurs when warm water that’s built up in the West Pacific sloshes to the east and replaces that normally cold water with warmer water,” Paul Roundy, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Albany in New York, told magazine.
With these effects often peaking in December, the name given to the natural event – which means “the boy” in Spanish – is thought to have originated centuries ago as “El Niño de Navidad” when Peruvian fishermen named it after the newborn Christ.
The opposite weather event to El Niño is La Niña – “the girl” – when temperatures fluctuate downward, with average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific dropping by 3-5°C below average.
A La Niña event beginning in December 2024 temporarily gave the planet lower global temperatures and meant that last year was cooler than 2024, which was the world’s hottest year on record.
The more than 3°C rise in sea temperatures forecast in the coming months makes this year’s El Niño the largest since the 19th century, according to the Met Office.
“I have never seen an El Niño signal this intense in our forecasts,” said Professor Adam Scaife, head of long-range forecasting at the Met Office.
“A typical El Niño leads to an equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperature rise of between one to 2°C, with 2°C being a really big event. This implies that if the forecast is accurate – and other forecast systems show similar extreme values – then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Niño and its worldwide climate influences.”
El Niño is associated with widespread changes in the climate system that can last for several months and lead to significant human impacts affecting areas including infrastructure, agriculture, health and the energy sector.
How will El Niño affect the UK’s weather?
The climate effects of El Niño vary across the world; it can have an impact on hurricane season in the Caribbean, monsoon season in Asia or droughts in South America and Australia, with the strongest effects felt in areas closest to the Pacific.
North-western Europe, including the UK, is forecast to see wetter and stormier conditions this autumn and early winter, the Met Office said. But the overall impact of El Niño on the UK is less predictable due to its distance from the Pacific.
El Niño events also drive an increase in global average temperatures, with 2027 now forecast to be the warmest year on record – meaning that after a summer of record-breaking heat, more historically hot weather is expected to be on the way next year.
“During large El Niño events, significantly more heat is released from the ocean to the atmosphere, leading to an increase in global average temperature, particularly in the calendar year following the winter peak of the El Niño,” said Dr Nick Dunstone, science fellow at the Met Office.
“Hence, 2027 is very likely to replace 2024 as the warmest year on record and be another year to temporarily exceed plus 1.5°C above the pre-industrial period”.
Studies are ongoing regarding the impact of global warming on El Niño, but the Climate Prediction Centre says that “this amplified cycle translates into more extreme and frequent ENSO-linked droughts, floods, heatwaves, wildfires and severe storms”.
Could it end the UK’s drought?
An unprecedented string of heatwaves and lack of rainfall in recent months brought the driest July in 190 years and pushed almost three quarters of England and all of Wales into drought, placing severe pressure on the water system, wildlife, farmers, emergency services and infrastructure.
Many parts of the country are facing water shortages, with reservoir levels falling to 62.6 per cent – 16.3 per cent lower than expected for this time of year, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Sudden heavy rainfall this week sparked fears of flash flooding due to water hitting parched, dry, hard ground. But this rain is not expected to end the drought: Forecasters and officials warned it could take months of sustained rainfall before rivers, reservoirs and groundwaters are completely replenished, which would mark the official end of a drought.
It also warned drought conditions could persist into the new year as, despite El Niño, current forecasts do not suggest this autumn will have the amount of rainfall required to drive recovery before December.