El Nino may return in 2026, making the planet even hotter

The warming El Nino weather phenomenon could form later this year, potentially pushing global temperatures to record heights.

There is a 50-60 per cent chance of El Nino developing during the July-September period and beyond, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The World Meteorological Organization will issue an update on El Nino on Tuesday.

Here’s what you need to know about El Nino and its cooler sister, La Nina.

Why the name?

El Nino and La Nina are two phases of a natural climate pattern across the tropical Pacific known as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).