El Niño Threatens Climate Disasters This Year, Warns UN 0 11

The UN meteorological agency forecasts that the climate phenomenon El Niño could lead to a global rise in temperatures and extreme weather anomalies in the coming months.

El Niño is a periodic warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This phenomenon typically lasts from nine to twelve months.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) explained that warm ocean waters contribute to the development of El Niño. The organization expects that in most regions of the world, temperatures will rise above average from June to August.

Experts cannot yet say exactly how strong the phenomenon will be. Climate models differ in their assessments of El Niño. However, specialists still urge preparations for possible extreme events.

"We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño, which will intensify droughts and heavy rainfall, as well as increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

El Niño could potentially lead to rising temperatures worldwide. Precipitation may increase in the southern parts of South America and the United States, in some regions of the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. In Australia, Central America, Indonesia, and parts of South Asia, the phenomenon may lead to drought. In the central and eastern Pacific, El Niño may contribute to the formation of hurricanes.

Saulo also reminded of other risks associated with extreme heat. She fears that this could lead to the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. Additionally, people may face reduced food and water supplies.

Some national meteorological services predict that this El Niño will be the strongest in the last decade. The WMO is more cautious in its assessments. However, the organization noted unusually warm subsurface conditions in the tropical Pacific. There, temperatures have exceeded the average by more than 6 °C. This creates a heat reservoir that enhances surface warming.