"El Nino moderately increases the probability of increased frequency of Atlantic depressions crossing the UK and wetter-than-average conditions." The Met Office also warned of a severe drop in temperatures in the New Year caused by "sudden stratospheric warmings" where bitter easterly winds chill Britain. The last El Nino, six years ago, saw the UK crippled by the worst winter for decades with harsh frosts, sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow setting in from early December and lasting until March. A Met Office spokesperson said: "This year’s El Niño started to grow in April and it has now become a strong, mature event similar to the landmark 1997-8 event. "Typically, growth will peak around the end of the year and decline during the first half of the following year. "Currently, the outlook for El Niño is for further growth over the next two months." This comes as the Met Office is set to issue a weather warning this week when strong gales are forecast to batter the coast of Britain. Although conditions will not be blustery enough to trigger an official storm warning, downpours and 50mph winds could whip up huge waves bringing bridge restrictions and ferry disruptions. Forecaster Sophie Yeomans said: “We are issuing a weather warning for Monday. Over the next few days it will continue to be wet and windy. “The wind will effect most parts of the UK although the south might escape some of the rain.”
The Met Office has released warnings that the UK is predicted to be hit by three months of storms, that could start within days, causing flooding and over one and a half foot of rain; emergency services and councils have been told to be on standby for what will "more likely than not" be the the biggest 'Super El Nino' in 144 years to hit Britain. As we noted in September, the latest report is still predicting snow and freezing -14C temperatures for early 2016.