‘Super El Niño’ could usher in freezing UK temperatures after record-breaking heat

A cold and wet winter could be on the way (Picture: AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

The UK could be plunged into a record-breaking freezing winter following a period of extreme heat around the world, experts have warned.

A natural atmospheric phenomenon called El Niño, which occurs every two to seven years, causes warmer-than-normal weather and sea surface temperatures to rise by 0.5°C.

But this time, forecasts have predicted this year’s El Niño – which scientists say is already here – could be even stronger than usual, compounded by global heating from the climate crisis.

And it could ...