El Nino will be the worst in over 15 years

This is according to a UN weather agency, which today warned that El Niño is already causing severe droughts and flooding across the world. 

The World Meteorological Organisation said El Niño, which occurs every two to seven years, had resurfaced a few months ago.

It has since become 'mature and strong' and is expected to become even more powerful by the end of the year.

'Severe droughts and devastating flooding being experienced throughout the tropics and sub-tropical zones bear the hallmarks of this El Niño, which is the strongest in more than 15 years,' WMO chief Michel Jarraud said.

El Niño is triggered by a warming in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

It can cause unusually heavy rains in some parts of the world and drought elsewhere.

The UN agency said this year's event was expected to push water surface temperatures in the east-central Pacific Ocean more than 2°C above normal.

This makes it one of the four strongest El Niños since 1950.

Previous particularly strong El Niños occurred in 1972-73, 1982-83 and 1997-98.

Typically, El Niño events reach their maximum strength between October and January, but often continue to wreak havoc through the first quarter of the year.

The phenomenon usually leaves countries like India, Indonesia and Australia drier, increasing chances of wildfires and lower crop production.

In recent months, extreme dry conditions caused by the El Niño have sparked some of the worst forest fires in Indonesia's history.

The phenomenon also often leads to heavier rainfall in the eastern Pacific and South American nations, raising the spectre of floods and landslides.

(dailymail.co.uk)