GETTY Experts warn the El Nino could cause catastrophe

Three months of storms are set to kick off within days after the biggest "Super El Nino" charges up to batter the UK. A Met Office forecast has warned of catasrophic effects – with more than one and a half foot of rain which will cause floods, along with gale-force winds and freezing -14C temperatures until early 2016. Climate experts have alerted councils, transport operators and even emergency services ahead of the El Nino – which "will more likely than not become the strongest ever on record".

Flooding caused by the El Nino - which is caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean - will be similar to the winter of 2013, which saw chaos across the UK and left 17 people dead. The report says: "The risk of spells of windy or stormy weather is greater than usual. There is clear shift towards above-average rainfall. "El Nino moderately increases the probability of increased frequency of Atlantic depressions crossing the UK and wetter-than-average conditions."

GETTY The winter of 2013 left 17 people dead

The revelation confirms last month's Express.co.uk exclusive which alerted Britain of a savage cold winter riddled with heavy snowstorms. When the El Nino phenomenon was announced earlier this year forecasters hoped it would fizzle out before winter. But temperatures in the Pacific Ocean have been rising too steadily for experts to ignore.

The knock-on effects around the globe could be catastrophic. The last El Nino, six years ago, saw the UK crippled by the worst winter for decades with widespread harsh frosts, sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow setting in from early December and lasting until March. This year could top that killer winter which saw airports closed for days and led to the deaths of more than 25,000 people.

GETTY The report warned of freezing weather similar to December 2010

This time round El Nino could be the strongest in decades Tomasz Schafernaker

Met Office and BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said: “This time round El Nino could be the strongest in decades. “In Europe sometimes winters end up much colder and drier and last much into spring. In 2010 the El Nino played a part in bringing huge amounts of snow to the UK.”

NOAA Weather patterns all over the world are likely to be affected

Cllr Peter Box, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said: “Highway teams will constantly be monitoring latest weather reports to stay one step ahead.” A Met Office spokesman said it released its forecast to brief agencies who will need it.