UK Met Office warns strongest El Niño in modern climate records could form

LONDON — The UK Met Office has warned that an El Niño forming in the tropical Pacific could become one of the strongest in modern climate records. In a report released Thursday, the agency said sea-surface temperatures could rise more than 3 degrees Celsius above normal by the end of the year, well above the 1-2 degree increase typically associated with El Niño. Met Office officials said 2026 could experience one of the strongest El Niño events since the 19th century, with 2027 potentially surpassing 2024 to become the warmest year on record. El Niño is a recurring climate pattern that disrupts temperature and rainfall patterns worldwide. The agency said the development could pressure agricultural production and crop yields across multiple regions and trigger extreme swings in temperature and precipitation. No further details on mitigation or response measures were immediately available.