El Nino impact to continue, expect above normal temperature: WMO

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) announced on Tuesday that El Nino, the climate phenomenon characterized by warming ocean surface temperatures, is not weakening as previously anticipated. Instead, it is expected to maintain its influence on the global climate in the coming months.

Although the intensity of El Nino is currently diminishing, above-normal temperatures are forecasted across nearly all land areas from March to May. This projection indicates that the effects of El Nino will still be felt across various regions.

According to the latest update from the WMO, there is a significant probability of El Nino persisting during the period from March to May, estimated at around 60%. Additionally, there is an 80% chance of neutral conditions—neither El Nino nor La Nina—prevailing from April to June.

El Nino, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, has wide-ranging impacts on global weather patterns and ecosystems. Conversely, La Nina, which involves the cooling of surface-ocean water along the tropical west coast of South America, presents its own distinct climate patterns.

While the focus is currently on the persistence of El Nino, the WMO also highlights the possibility of La Nina developing later in the year. However, there remains a level of uncertainty regarding this potential shift in climate patterns.