Despite all the could's and maybes's perhaps now we'll all pay attention to the Goracle who invented the internet.

El Nino could cause chocolate prices to soar: Extreme weather may DOUBLE the cost of our favourite food and drink

Scientists have warned that a 'strong' El Nino could be on the way

India, Brazil and western Africa would all be badly affected

This could hamper the production of coffee, rice, soya beans and cocoa

In 2002 a moderate El Nino wiped £9.6 billion off India's rice industry

By Jonathan O'Callaghan and Victoria Woollaston for MailOnline
Published: 05:13 EST, 21 May 2015 | Updated: 06:22 EST, 21 May 2015

A strong El Nino event predicted for later this year could affect foods including rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa.

Prices could be set to soar - by as much as 107 per cent - as crops struggle to cope with the droughts and flooding that are expected to follow the intense hot weather an El Nino typically brings.

Experts also said reduced rainfall in countries such as India and West Africa could arrive as early as June, as the tropical Pacific starts to heat up.

According to The Times, a strong El Nino could wreak havoc in Brazil and increase the cost of soya beans by up to 36.8 per cent, while coffee could increase up to 107 per cent.

Cocoa beans are also vulnerable, as 69 per cent of the world’s supply is produced in west African countries - which will be especially susceptible to the drought conditions.

And rice could see up to a 13.7 per cent decrease in production as India, the world’s second largest producer, struggles with temperatures that are 1°C (1.8°F) hotter this summer.

While these are a worst-case scenario, Professor Adam Scaife from the Met Office told the BBC there was a 70 per cent chance of a ‘moderate’ El Nino towards the end of the year, which will still cause droughts and crop failures.

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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/a...l#ixzz3anuQ3Vlt