Weather experts have warned that Britain faces a battering from strong winds and a deluge of rain next year as we suffer from the after-effects of hurricanes hitting America
Britain faces a battering from strong winds and a deluge of rain next year as we suffer from the after-effects of hurricanes hitting America. Experts have predicted a surge in Atlantic hurricanes as the world transitions from the sizzling warmth of El Niño to the cooler grip of La Niña.
And it’ll have a knock-on effect on the UK as it could see our temperatures drop, while we receive more rain than normal. El Niño, a warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, saw widespread heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and flooding across the globe between June 2023 and May 2024.
Now we are entering the cooler phase of the cycle, La Niña, where stronger than average trade winds cause a cooling of the ocean surface. Eeva Ruuska, of travel risk intelligence company Riskline, warned there will be hurricanes across the Atlantic next year.
She also urged holidaymakers to keep an eye on weather warnings to avoid any foreign jaunts from being ruined. She told the Daily Star: “I think we’re going to see a lot of hurricanes next year.
“Next summer we could see more hurricanes, or more strong hurricanes striking the United States, for example, or Caribbean islands. Hurricane season runs from May to October or November, so these are the months we are expecting to see them.”
Meanwhile, experts say the UK is set to see colder, wetter and stormier conditions as the impact of the climate phenomenon makes itself felt.
Forecasters at The Weather Outlook have said that La Niña will “usually bring colder winters”. “Cooler temperatures are predicted, including in Western Canada, northern United States, Japan and the Korean peninsula. But we will also see above average rainfall, which is expected in southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
“Obviously, when we see more rainfall, that means increased risk of flooding. So that is something that could definitely impact travel plans and travellers, if they are in those areas.”
She added: “Colder than normal temperatures have been observed across western Europe during past La Niña cycles. In extreme La Niña periods, summers have typically been drier than average in the southern, central and eastern regions of Europe. Western and southwestern regions could receive more than average rainfall.”
Ms Ruuska advised anyone worried about their summer holiday plans being scuppered to make the most of new technology that communicates weather warnings quickly to travellers. She said AccuWeather and Weather Underground apps provide travellers with real time alerts.
Government emergency alert systems like Wireless Emergency Alerts can send automated messages to millions of phones based on their location. “AI powered weather prediction systems improve their accuracy by 85% helping travelers stay ahead of disruptions,” she added.
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