India, June 10 -- A potentially powerful El Nino is developing in the Pacific Ocean and could reshape weather patterns around the world in the coming weeks. Forecasters warn this could be among the strongest on record.

There's "real potential for the strongest El Nino event in 140 years," according to Paul Roundy, a professor of atmospheric and environmental sciences at the State University of New York at Albany.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expects El Nino conditions to emerge soon and continue at least into winter. Depending on its strength and duration, the climate phenomenon could trigger drought, flooding, heat waves and disruptions to food and water supplies in multiple regions.

"The world must treat it as the urge...