A plague of record temperatures, torrential rain and droughts are set to make life a misery for the planet, following confirmation of the return of climate phenomenon El Niño.
The cyclical warming of the world’s oceans and weather sparks tropical cyclones in the Pacific and only happens once every three to seven years.
The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared El Niño was underway, after the past three years were dominated by the cooler La Niña climate pattern.
Scientists fear this year’s could be even stronger than usual, with the impact felt across the globe.
As a result there could be forest fires, intense rainfall, floods, and surges in infectious diseases including malaria and even plague.
Michelle L'Heureux, climate scientist at the Climate Prediction Center, said: “Depending on its strength, El Niño can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world.
“Climate change can exacerbate or mitigate certain impacts related to El Niño.
“For example, El Niño could lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Niño.”
Already in Peru, the country's worst outbreak of horrid dengue fever has killed more than 200 people this year, with more than 130,000 recorded cases - the highest since 2017.
Increased rainfall and flood risk causes mosquitoes to mass reproduce due to the build of water in cities.
El Niño appears to have formed early this year, and is likely to be strong, warp weather worldwide and give an already warming Earth an extra kick of natural heat, meteorologists announced.
Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at Brown University, said: "If this El Niño tips into the largest class of events...it will be the shortest recurrence time in the historical record."
Such a short gap between El Niños leaves communities with less time to recover from damages to infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems like coral reefs.
Usually, an El Niño mutes hurricane activity in the Atlantic, giving relief to coastal areas in states from Texas to New England, Central America and the Caribbean, weary from recent record busy years.
But forecasters don't see that happening this time, because of record hot Atlantic temperatures that would counteract the El Niño winds that normally decapitate many storms.
In the past, a strong El Niño has led to record global warmth, like in 2016 and 1998.
Scientists earlier this year said next year is more likely to set a record heat, especially because El Niños usually reach peak power in winter.
