El Nino to be ‘very strong’, to last until February, warns UN
Fuelled by exceptionally warm ocean conditions across the tropical Pacific, El Nino is expected to strengthen further during the coming months to a very strong intensity.
The United Nations climate agency has warned that El Nino will become very strong and persist through February, according to a report by AFP. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said El Nino will peak towards the end of this year, although its impacts on climate will continue into 2027. El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon not caused by climate change, but scientists expect it to exacerbate the heat of a warming planet and increase weather extremes.
UN chief Antonio Guterres described El Nino as "supersized" and warned that the world is in dangerous territory with rising temperatures. The race now is between rising risks and our commitment to take climate action and protect people. The WMO chief, Celeste Saulo, said El Nino could deliver a massive blow to economies and communities worldwide, with already visible disruptions from droughts and floods.
El Nino warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, causing worldwide changes in winds, pressure, and rainfall patterns. It typically lasts nine to 12 months and is classified as weak, moderate, strong, or very strong. The WMO said there is nearly 100% chance that El Nino will continue through February.
The Pacific Ocean has been heating up, with sea surface temperatures rising 1.5C above normal between May and July, and reaching 2.2C to 2.6C above average between late July and mid-August.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
