Temperatures to rise again as Met Office says ‘super El Niño’ weather event is brewing
Temperatures will rise again this week after Britons enjoyed one of the warmest starts to April on record.
A temperature of 26.6 degrees was recorded at Kew Gardens in south-west London last Wednesday, making it the hottest day of 2026 so far.
After a cold weekend, temperatures are expected to rise slowly, reaching 18C in London and 16C in Manchester by Friday. Spring temperatures are expected to be 17C on Saturday and 16C on Sunday until the end of the week.
The news comes as forecasters suggest the upcoming El Niño weather event could reach a “superpower”, further intensifying global temperatures over the next year.
The term El Niño is used to describe a warming of sea surface temperatures that occurs every few years, usually in the central-eastern equatorial Pacific. An El Niño event is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical region increase by more than the long-term average of 0.5C. El Niño is strongly felt in the tropical eastern Pacific, with warmer than average weather.
Its effects were seen in the United States in March with unseasonably hot weather. The average temperature for March was 10.47C, 5.19C above the 20th century normal.
But according to the Met Office, these changes in the Pacific could have worldwide consequences; It may increase the risk of drought in many regions, including India, parts of the western Pacific, northeastern Australia and the Amazon. They also often lead to reduced activity in Atlantic tropical cyclones.
A major El Niño would also increase the likelihood of global average temperatures rising in 2027 and could contribute to another year of temporary 1.5C above pre-industrial levels on a global average basis.
“Our forecasts suggest this will be a major event with sea surface temperature anomalies likely to exceed 1.5C in the central and eastern tropical Pacific,” a Met Office spokesman said.
Europe and the UK may also be affected by this sea temperature change. It’s likely to be less severe than in the United States, but El Niño is linked to hotter summers and colder winters.
“It is important to emphasize that El Niño is just one of a number of climate drivers that can affect weather in Europe and the UK. The likely impacts will depend on how these factors come together and this will be assessed in more detail later in the year as forecasts improve,” the Met Office added.
Weather forecast in England this week
Wednesday:
Although it will be a cloudy and humid start for most, the weather will brighten as the day progresses and warm sunshine will develop. However, heavy rain will come from the east and heavy rain will come from the west.
Wednesday night:
Heavy rain is falling quickly eastwards this evening, followed by clear skies and showers continuing through the night. Showers are heaviest and most frequent in the northwest. Stay light.
Thursday:
A bright and breezy day with sunshine and showers. Showers are most frequent in the north, some heavy with the risk of hail and thunder. Feeling of warmth in sunlight.
Outlook from Friday to Sunday:
The rain will gradually move eastward by Friday, clearing the far east by lunchtime on Saturday. High pressure is building behind this to ensure a dry and bright Sunday.
