A 'Super' El Niño Is Coming, Here’s How It Could Impact Your UK Food Shop

Globally, it’s expected that the world will see more flooding, drought and extreme levels of heat which will continue into next year.

Parents editor at HuffPost UK

An El Niño weather event is now “firmly established”, and is set to intensify in the coming months, with major impacts globally on rainfall and temperature patterns.

The phenomenon develops every few years, and involves the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean becoming hotter than normal, according to Professor Bill McGuire, a professor specialising in climate hazards.

An El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5°C above the long-term average.

Yet forecasts predict sea surface temperatures will rise to more than 3°C above average in the coming months, peaking in December. Some forecasts suggest it might even reach nearer 4°C.

How would an El Niño weather event impact the weather?

Globally, it is anticipated that the world will see more flooding, drought and extreme levels of heat which will continue into next year.

The climate phenomenon has already been linked to a weakened monsoon season in India, as well as increased wildfires.

In the UK, the Met Office said it’s expected that we’ll experience wetter, stormier conditions throughout autumn and winter.

How could it impact my food shop?

With weather being impacted globally, there’s a risk of El Niño impacting the UK’s food supply chain and energy security, according to Professor Amanda Maycock, the joint chair of the........

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