Winter 2026-2027 could bring a sharply different weather pattern across the US and UK as a rapidly strengthening El Niño heads towards its expected peak later this year, with forecasters warning of heightened risks of flooding, drought, extreme heat and major shifts in snowfall.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) now puts the likelihood of El Niño continuing through February 2027 at nearly 100%, while NOAA says there is a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere autumn and winter.
