The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has stated that despite the gradually weakening of El Nino, it will still impact the global climate in the coming months, fueling the heat trapped by greenhouse gases from human activities.
In conjunction to this, the meteorological department has predicted abnormal temperatures across the world in a period between March and May.
“Above normal temperatures are predicted over almost all land areas between March and May,” WMO stated.
According to the department, the 2023-24 El Niño has peaked as one of the five strongest on record.
In addition, a new Update from the WMO noted that there is about a 60% chance of El Nino persisting during the months of March and May with an 80% chance of neutral conditions in April to June.
“There is a chance of La Nina developing later in the year, but the odds are currently uncertain,” WMO warned.
“Every month since June 2023 has set a new monthly temperature record and 2023 was by far the warmest year on record. El Nino has contributed to these record temperatures, but heat-trapping greenhouse gases are unequivocally the main culprit,” WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said.
El Nino Statistics
El Nino occurs on average every two to seven years, and typically lasts nine to 12 months. It is a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface.
Also Read: Met Department Lists Regions to Receive Heavy Rain & Storms
This occurs on the surfaces of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It influences weather and storm patterns in different parts of the world.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific clearly reflect El Nino. He further elaborated that the condition in the ocean is not the same as in the other regions.
“But sea surface temperatures in other parts of the globe have been persistently and unusually high for the past 10 months,” Celeste Saulo Clarified.
“The January 2024 sea-surface temperature was by far the highest on record for January. This is worrying and cannot be explained by El Nino alone,” he added.
Also Read: Govt Sounds Another El Nino Warning
Pertaining the situation in water masses, World met department predicted above-normal sea-surface temperatures over much of the global oceans are expected to lead to above-normal temperatures over almost all land areas in the next three months.
This is also expected to influence regional rainfall patterns according to a Global Seasonal Climate Update issued by WMO.
