Meteorologists are calling the developing El Niño a “Godzilla” event. Here is what that means and why it matters.

El Niño is a warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It shifts weather patterns around the world, bringing drought to some regions and heavy rain to others.

This one could be historic. The US Climate Prediction Center says there is up to a 75 per cent chance that the October-to-December period will be the strongest El Niño on record since 1950. Sea surface temperatures are already more than 3 degrees Celsius above normal.

The label reflects the scale of disruption. The Philippines’ central bank is preparing for food-price shocks. In 1997-98, a similar event cut Guyana’s rice production by 37 per cent.

Climate scientist Mark Cane told Mongabay that evidence is accumulating that climate change makes El Niños more powerful.

The event is expected to peak between October and December and influence weather into early 2027.