Jump to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNick FerrisSunday 06 September 2026 10:09 BSTEl Nino is expected to cause havoc across the globe (AFP/Getty)The Met Office and the United Nations have warned that this year’s climate change-driven 'super' El Niño is set to be the strongest on record, with tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures forecast to peak at up to 4C above normal levels.The “unprecedented weather event”, which has been described as “truly mind-blowing”, is expected to trigger torrential rain and flooding across parts of East Africa alongside severe droughts in southern Africa, potentially pushing an additional 49 million people worldwide into hunger.Humanitarian relief efforts face a critical shortfall as the crisis hits amidst severe foreign aid cuts by wealthy countries, including the UK reducing its overseas development spending to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income.The UK economy will feel the impact through higher household costs and stormy winter weather, with around a quarter of food imports—such as coffee, cocoa, and rice—originating from regions most vulnerable to the climate shock.Cross-party MPs and international development charities are urging the UK government to reverse aid cuts and re-establish international climate leadership to help vulnerable nations adapt to compounding humanitarian emergencies.In fullThe charts that show the havoc El Nino is set to wreak across the worldMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in