Developing El Niño becomes strongest on record weeks before expected peak

The developing El Niño climate phenomenon is now the strongest on record, according to scientists monitoring Pacific Ocean temperatures.

Daily sea surface temperatures in a key region of the central-eastern Pacific were 3.05C above average on 19 September - exceeding the previous record of 3.02C set during the very strong El Niño of 2015.

Some longer-term measures of El Niño have not yet hit record levels but this is likely to change, with the peak not expected until later this year.

El Niño can cause major shifts in weather patterns around the world, with the Met Office saying many of the expected impacts are already being felt.

El Niño set to be 'strongest in living memory', says Met Office

El Niño is a naturally-occurring pattern, which happens about every two to seven years and tends to last for around a year.

Trade winds that typically blow from east to west across the Pacific Ocean can weaken or even reverse, allowing warm water to spread eastwards.

Heat is then released from the ocean into the atmosphere which can boost global temperatures and drive changes in weather patterns around the world.