The UN has predicted an 80% chance of an El Niño in the coming weeks, a powerful weather phenomenon that raises global temperatures and reduced rainfall.10:15, 02 Jun 2026Updated 10:32, 02 Jun 2026The world must prepare for the return of El Niño drastically boosting temperatures in the coming weeks, the UN has warned.‌El Niño, a powerful natural weather pattern which raises global temperatures and reduces rainfall, has an 80% chance of happening before September and a 90% chance of persisting until November, The World Meteorological Organization has revealed.‌Several forecasts from national weather agencies have even predicted the upcoming wave could be one of the strongest ever recorded, creating a a potential "super" El Niño hotter than anything that has come before it.‌In the UK specifically, the El Nino effect is usually weaker but can lead to more dramatic weather extremes: winter temperatures tend to be colder, especially later in the season, while in summer the mercury soars. This current heatwave might prove the tip of the iceberg."Summer temperatures could certainly be impacted, possibly this year, but more likely next, as the planet heats up," says Professor Bill McGuire, emeritus professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London and author of the new book The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis. "I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see 40C-plus heat."‌UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the world must treat the threat of El Nino "as the urgent climate warning it is.“El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” he said. “Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed.”The last El Nino, which took place in 2023-24, was one of the five strongest ever recorded, and contributed to a scorchingly hot summer that broke global records.Article continues belowYet despite the overwhelming heatwave of 2024, scientists predict the coming El Nino could be even more powerful.“We're very confident that there's a big event coming,” Prof Adam Scaife, head of monthly to decadal prediction at the UK Met Office, told the BBC. “It may even be a record event.”This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link . You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage .