Environment & Climate
Experts warn El Niño winds could decimate heat-stressed trees in England
A combination of record summer heat and forecast autumn storms threatens weakened tree species across the region.
The short version
- Trees in England are currently brittle and weakened after enduring record-breaking temperatures during the 2026 growing season.
- The UK's Met Office warns of a strong El Niño event that is expected to bring heavy rains and high winds to the UK this autumn.
- Experts fear the combination of weakened root structures and intense storms could lead to widespread tree mortality, potentially altering local landscapes.
Key facts
- Kevin Martin, head of tree collections at Kew Gardens, warned that extreme summer heat and drought have left trees brittle, inflexible, and highly vulnerable to autumn winds.[The Guardian]
- The UK's Met Office stated that the developing El Niño over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest in more than a century, forecasting increased rainfall and storms for the UK this autumn.[The Guardian]
- The 2026 growing season featured the hottest May ever recorded in the UK, with temperatures reaching 35°C.[The Guardian]
- Dry weather followed by heavy rain can cause root death and soil undermining, causing trees to fail at the root plate.[The Guardian]
- Following a heatwave in 2022, Kew Gardens lost more than 400 trees, and experts anticipate that the mortality from the 2026 heatwave will be significantly higher.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The full extent of the mortality caused by the 2026 extreme weather will not be known for two to three years.[The Guardian]