Subscribe now

Earth

El Niño pattern can bring wet weather to UK one year later

El Niño and La Niña cycles driven by ocean temperatures in the Pacific can influence weather in the North Atlantic 12 months later – a finding that could improve long-range forecasts

By Madeleine Cuff

4 October 2024

Wet weather in London is made more likely by El Niño conditions a year earlier

Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Weather patterns in the tropical Pacific can help to determine the kind of winter the UK will face a year later, in “radical” new findings set to improve the accuracy of long-range forecasting.

Ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific can trigger climate patterns with global effects. Every three to five years or so, the Pacific flips from La Niña conditions, where surface water temperatures in its equatorial region are relatively cool, to El Niño conditions, where these waters…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Unlock this article

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 15 January 2025.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account