Warning of record global temperatures as chance of very strong El Niño grows

As El Niño develops this year, scientists are increasingly confident it could be one of the strongest on record with global consequences, as Simon King explains.

New forecasts show growing confidence that the developing El Nino in the tropical Pacific Ocean could be one of the strongest ever recorded, with warnings of record global temperatures and major humanitarian impacts.

The US climate prediction center said Thursday that the potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern is 'likely to emerge soon' and could reach 'very strong' levels later in the year.