UN predicts 70 per cent chance of an El Nino event this year

An El Nino event that could disrupt global weather is likely by the end of what has already been a hot year.

This year was the joint-hottest summer on record for the UK as a whole and the hottest for England. Source: AAP

An El Nino event that could disrupt global weather is likely by the end of what has already been a hot year.

The World Meteorological Organisation forecast "a 70 per cent chance of an El Nino developing by the end of this year".

El Nino is triggered by periodic warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean which can trigger drought in some regions, heavy rain in others.

In a statement it said: “WMO does not expect the anticipated El Nino to be as powerful as the 2015-2016 event, but it will still have considerable impacts."

The organisation sees increased odds of higher surface temperatures in most of  Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Africa and along much of South America's coastline.

Nearly 20 major wildfires have torn through California in the last month, but experts predict wild fires to only get worse because of climate change. Source: AAP

Interior parts of South America, Greenland, many south Pacific islands and some in the Caribbean were identified as possible exceptions.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas noted 2018 "is on track to be one of the warmest on record,” after especially high temperatures in July and August across several parts of the world.