Washington: El Nino is expected to become “very strong” in the coming months and is almost certain to persist through February, the United Nations’ climate agency warned on Thursday.
The World Meteorological Organization said El Nino would peak towards the end of this year, although its impacts on the climate would continue well into 2027.
“El Nino is firmly established and will intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, with big impacts on rainfall and temperature patterns and associated risks of floods, drought and extreme heat,” the WMO said.
El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon and is not caused by climate change.
However, scientists expect it to intensify the heat of a planet already warming due to the burning of fossil fuels, while also amplifying weather extremes.
“El Nino is being supersized before our eyes,” said UN chief Antonio Guterres.
“The science leaves no room for doubt: the planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up. Sea surface temperatures are rising, temperatures keep climbing, and the world is in the danger zone of extreme weather.
“The race now is between rising risks and our commitment to take climate action and protect people. We must win that race.”
