‘Hyper’ El Niño Could Trigger Global Chaos, Scientist Warns

A massive climate event is forming in the Pacific Ocean, and experts say the world is not prepared for what comes next. El Niño is a natural cycle that heats the central and eastern Pacific Ocean every few years. It switches between warm phases (El Niño) and cool phases (La Niña). This year, the heating is far stronger than normal. Scientists define a “super” El Niño as one that reaches 2C of warming. This one is forecast to hit 4C. Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL, calls it a “hyper” El Niño. He warns it could mark one of the biggest weather upheavals in a thousand years. The climate crisis is making it worse. McGuire says it will cause a string of weather disasters across the globe for the rest of this year and into 2027. The UK, he adds, will not escape. McGuire says we need leaders who make things better, not worse.