New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- El Nino is expected to intensify into a "very strong" event in the coming months and is almost certain to continue through February 2027, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The climate phenomenon is forecast to reach its peak towards the end of 2026, although its effects on global weather patterns could continue well into 2027.
The WMO said the strengthening El Nino could significantly alter rainfall and temperature patterns, increasing the risks of floods, droughts and extreme heat in different parts of the world. El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon and is not caused by climate change. However, scientists expect it to add to the heat of an already warming planet, potentially intensifying weather extremes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the developing event as an unusually strong El Nino and warned that rising sea-surface temperatures and increasing global temperatures were putting the world at greater risk of extreme weather.
The WMO expects the phenomenon to remain influential through February, with its impacts varying across regions depending on local climate patterns.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.