WMO warns that El Niño could cause severe global weather conditions
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that a strong El Niño event is currently developing in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to become very intense in the coming months. The WMO said rising sea temperatures in the Pacific could significantly alter global weather patterns, increasing the risk of floods, droughts, and extreme heat in various regions.
The WMO added that land temperatures are likely to be above average across most of the globe, with forecasts indicating that El Niño will continue until February 2027, a prediction made with high confidence. Professor Adam Scaife from the UK Met Office said this could be the strongest El Niño in living memory, and 2027 is likely to be the hottest year on record.
The WMO has launched a global early warning and preparedness campaign in collaboration with climate agencies, the United Nations, and aid groups to reduce the impact of extreme weather on agriculture, food security, water, health, and energy. The agency emphasized that El Niño is a natural event not caused by human-induced climate change, but it is occurring on a planet that is already warming.
