El Niņo - the natural Pacific weather pattern that pushes up global temperatures - has officially begun, US scientists say. Previously it had been expected to be a super El Nino. Now descriptors like Godzilla El Nino are doing the rounds.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared that El Niņo conditions are now under way in the tropical Pacific, with sea surface temperatures having risen sharply in recent months.
Many forecasts suggest this could end up as a so-called "super" El Niņo, and even be among the strongest ever recorded.
We can expect more bizarre weather conditions here too on the back of it. Even though it is a pacific ocean phenomenon, it has global impacts.
So watch out for wacky weather by the autumn and the prediction is for the hottest year ever in 2027.
