The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced that the El Nino weather pattern, known for causing extreme conditions like wildfires and tropical cyclones, is expected to transition into cooler La Nina conditions later this year. El Nino is characterized by disruption of wind patterns leading to warmer ocean temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific, while La Nina brings cooler temperatures and is associated with floods and droughts.
According to the WMO, there is a 70 percent chance of La Nina conditions occurring between July and September, increasing to 80 percent between August and November. Despite the cooling influence of La Nina that lasted from 2020 to early 2023, the past nine years have been the warmest on record. The organization emphasized that even with the end of El Nino, long-term climate changes due to greenhouse gases will continue to impact the planet, with high sea surface temperatures remaining significant in the coming months.
The WMO’s Deputy Secretary-General, Ko Barrett, warned of the ongoing impact of climate change and stressed the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions. As the world faces the transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, it is crucial to monitor and adapt to the changing weather patterns that can have profound effects on ecosystems and communities worldwide.
El Niño can lead to extreme weather events like droughts or floods as well as heatwaves or cold snaps. These events can disrupt agriculture production or water supply systems. With La Niña expected this year it’s important for governments and communities around the world prepare for potential changes in precipitation patterns.
Furthermore, scientists are warning that even if we see a temporary relief from El Niño’s heatwaves during this transition period, we must not become complacent about reducing our carbon footprint. The WMO emphasizes that long-term climate change due to greenhouse gases will continue to impact our planet regardless of whether we experience an El Niño or a La Niña event.
In conclusion, as we prepare for this transition from El Niño to La Niña conditions it’s important not only to monitor but also adapt our policies and practices accordingly. We must take action now if we want a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
