The El Niño climate pattern has officially formed in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to strengthen over the next three months, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned. The agency says the phenomenon is likely to increase the frequency of extreme weather events worldwide, including heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and marine heatwaves.
In a special bulletin released on Friday (July 3), the WMO said sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific could rise by up to 2°C above average between July and September.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said El Niño could significantly raise temperatures both over land and in the oceans, increasing the risk of climate-related disasters across multiple regions.
The forecast indicates below-average rainfall in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Australia, and the tropical Indian Ocean region. In contrast, above-normal rainfall is expected in the central and eastern Pacific and northern parts of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa.
Reduced rainfall is also likely across the Horn of Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and the northwestern regions of South America. Meanwhile, southern Europe may experience relatively wetter conditions, while northern Europe could remain drier than usual. Sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean and tropical Atlantic are also expected to remain above average.
Experts note that El Niño typically develops every two to seven years, driven by abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean waters, and usually lasts between 9 and 12 months.
In response to the expected impacts, the United Nations and various governments, humanitarian agencies, and stakeholders in agriculture and public health are stepping up coordinated preparedness efforts. Strengthening early warning systems and climate services has been emphasized to reduce potential damage.
Source: World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Times of India.