El Nino forecast update as seven areas face extreme weather chaos and 'cyclones'

El Nino forecast update as seven areas face extreme weather chaos and 'cyclones' The World Meteorological Organization has warned this year's record-breaking El Nino could cause drought, flooding, landslides, food shortages and cyclones Climate experts have issued a renewed warning over this year's El Nino, which is expected to be the strongest on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has named several coutries particularly at risk as the weather phenomenon threatens to "unleash multiple hazards" including extreme temperatures, floods, food shortages and cyclones. It has said "all aspects of society" are likely to be affected in some parts of the world, with experts urging governments and communities to prepare now. In particular, it highlighted potentiallly disastrous implications for "agriculture and food security, water resources, health, marine ecosystems and fisheries". The WMO said the South-West Indian Ocean region could face a multitude of hazards as a result of El Nino from now until March next year. “Southern parts of the region need to strengthen preparedness for drought, water stress and food-security risks; northern and wetter areas need to prepare for flooding and landslides; while island States require a flexible multi-hazard approach encompassing extreme heat, heavy rainfall, marine impacts and tropical cyclone risk," it warned. "Drought and heat may reduce agricultural productivity and increase water stress in southern areas, while excessive rainfall could result in flooding, crop damage and water contamination." The WMO specifically named seven different places facing this multitude of hazards - South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Tanzania, the Seychelles, and the Mascarene Islands. El Nino weather risks in South-West Indian Ocean - Drier conditions and increased drought risk in South Africa, southern and central Mozambique, Malawi and south-western Madagascar. This could increase risks to agriculture, pasture, water resources, food security and livelihoods. - Wetter conditions and increased flood risk across Tanzania, northern Malawi, Seychelles and parts of the Mascarene Islands, with associated risks of flooding, flash floods, landslides, infrastructure disruption and water contamination. - Mixed rainfall signals over Madagascar, with the north and east more likely to experience normal to above-normal rainfall, while the south-west is more exposed to below-normal rainfall and drought stress. - Above-normal temperatures across the entire region, with a substantially increased likelihood of exceptionally high temperatures. - Below-normal tropical cyclone activity for the South-West Indian Ocean basin overall, influenced by El Nino. This means cyclones may track south and miss Madagascar and Mozambique, while the Mascarene Islands retain a near-normal cyclone risk. What is El Nino? El Nino occurs every few years when temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the long-term average. For the UK, it tends to lead to wetter and stormier conditions in the winter months, and extreme heat during the summer. The current El Nino is set to be the strongest in living memory, experts have warned. The Met Office's long-range outlook covering the next three months points to higher-than-average chances of rain, strong winds and mild conditions. The probability of the October to December period being wet overall is twice the normal level.