UN warns heat records could be broken as chance of El Niño rises

There is estimated 60% chance event will develop by end of July, and 80% chance of it by end of September

The chance of an El Nino weather phenomenon developing in the coming months has risen, the United Nations has said, warning that it could fuel higher global temperatures and possibly new heat records.

The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday that it now estimated there was a 60% chance that El Nino would develop by the end of July, and an 80% chance it would do so by the end of September.