UN Agency Warns El Niño to Become Strong Event by September
The WMO warns El Niño has started and will become a strong event by September, increasing extreme weather risks. This natural phenomenon warms Pacific temperatures, impacting global weather patterns. The last El Niño contributed to record-breaking global temperatures in 2023 and 2024.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon, has already begun and is expected to develop into a strong event between July and September. This will increase the likelihood of extreme weather worldwide.
El Niño warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, causing global changes in winds, pressure, and rainfall. It typically occurs every two to seven years and lasts nine to 12 months. The WMO classifies El Niño events as weak, moderate, strong, or very strong, with this event projected to reach the third-highest level out of four by September.
The last El Niño contributed to 2023 being the second-hottest year on record and 2024 reaching an all-time high of approximately 1.55 degrees above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. While El Niño usually peaks between November and February, the resulting temperature spike often occurs later.