The UN officials warned on Wednesday that the El Niño weather pattern is anticipated to lead to a significant increase in ocean temperatures in the Pacific, potentially causing floods and droughts as it circulates globally. The latest seasonal outlook from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) projected that the upcoming El Niño event would intensify, with temperatures in the central Pacific expected to rise approximately 3.8 degrees Celsius above normal from November to January, peaking in December.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted that the predicted 3.8-degree increase exceeds past El Niño records, emphasizing the potential widespread impacts. El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, is a natural climate phenomenon influencing global weather patterns, leading to elevated temperatures and disrupted rainfall distribution across various regions.
While El Niño is a natural occurrence not directly linked to climate change, the phenomenon can be exacerbated by global warming due to elevated baseline temperatures. The WMO cautioned that the anticipated El Niño-related weather extremes could heighten challenges in housing, water resources, sanitation, and healthcare services, with increased flooding risks in southern Africa starting in November.
In Southeast Asia, the expected warmer conditions and reduced rainfall may affect agriculture and water availability, while Latin America could experience heightened precipitation levels. The WMO, in conjunction with the UN, stressed the urgency of preparedness measures. UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, described the impending El Niño as a “behemoth” and a “wrecking ball,” warning of severe heatwaves, droughts, and floods across Latin America, Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, with significant humanitarian implications.
Fletcher estimated that around 50 million individuals could face exacerbated food insecurity due to the anticipated El Niño impacts. To address the potential challenges, proactive actions are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of the impending weather pattern.
