El Niño is already in force, but not yet strong enough to influence the planet's climate – the severity of the recent heat wave that killed thousands in Europe was associated by experts exclusively with climate change. But a new analysis from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shows that the phenomenon is heading towards becoming strong in the coming months. This promises to further increase the occurrence and strength of extreme events, already fueled by the climate crisis.
El Niño will gain strength quickly, increasing chances of extreme events
El Niño is already in force, but not yet strong enough to influence the planet's climate – the severity of the recent heat wave that killed thousands in Europe was associated by experts exclusively with climate change....
The WMO’s monthly global seasonal climate update points to “a rapid development towards a strong El Niño in the period from July to September”. The UN meteorological agency classifies the phenomenon as weak, moderate, strong or very strong. Which means this year's El Niño is predicted to reach at least the third highest level in four, explains AFP. – at least for now.
Projections from the world's main meteorological centers indicate a significant warming of the waters of the equatorial Pacific, especially in the central and eastern portions of the ocean, where El Niño originates. In some areas used to monitor the phenomenon, sea surface temperatures can be more than 2°C above average.
According to the WMO, the models present similar results, increasing confidence that the episode will be classified as strong, highlights g1. And the tendency is for El Niño to continue intensifying throughout this semester and reaching its peak between November and February 2027.
Given this scenario, the UN agency is warning governments and humanitarian organizations to prepare for extreme weather events, which include heat waves, droughts and intense rains, reports Al Jazeera. “Early seasonal forecasts and early warnings are vital to save lives and mitigate the impact on our economies and communities,” highlighted WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Since 2006, a sequence of El Niño episodes has increasingly changed the planet's climate, which is already hotter due to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Even when considered weak or moderate, these phenomena occur on a heated planet, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events.
Folha, Terra, Estado de Minas, UOL and Reuters also shared the WMO update on El Niño.
Source: ClimaInfo
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