Increased rainfall and storms to hit UK due to biggest El Niño for a century, says Met Office

The Guardian UK Friday 21 August 2026, 07:42 UTC By Matthew Weaver 1 min read

Key Points

‘Unprecedented’ weather pattern over Pacific Ocean to be felt worldwide with severe droughts expected in southern hemisphereThe El Niño event developing over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest for more than a 100 years, the UK’s Met Office has said. Increased rainfall and storms are forecast to hit the UK this autumn as a result of the “unprecedented” weather pattern, which will also cause severe droughts in the southern hemisphere, the Met Office warned.

‘Unprecedented’ weather pattern over Pacific Ocean to be felt worldwide with severe droughts expected in southern hemisphere

The El Niño event developing over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest for more than a 100 years, the UK’s Met Office has said.

Increased rainfall and storms are forecast to hit the UK this autumn as a result of the “unprecedented” weather pattern, which will also cause severe droughts in the southern hemisphere, the Met Office warned.

UK (LOCATION) El Niño (ORG) Met Office ‘Unprecedented’ (ORG) Pacific Ocean (LOCATION) the Pacific Ocean (LOCATION) Met Office (ORG) the Met Office (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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