Australia weather: El Nino likely to strengthen further, persist into 2027: World Meteorological Organisation
Australia’s east coast should brace for extreme heat and drought as an exceptionally strong El Nino develops, the World Meteorological Organisation has warned.
The El Nino weather phenomenon is set to strengthen further into 2027, raising risks of extreme weather into next year, the World Meteorological Organization says.
The UN weather agency said its forecasts showed a near 100 per cent likelihood that El Nino will persist through February 2027, fuelled by exceptionally warm Pacific Ocean temperatures.
A very strong El Nino can significantly shift rainfall and temperature patterns worldwide, and fuel extreme weather, like typhoons.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“El Nino is being supersized before our eyes. The science leaves no room for doubt: The planet is in uncharted waters, and those waters are heating up,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific caused by weakening trade winds.
It occurs naturally every two to seven years and tends to last up to 12 months.
This weather pattern often brings dry conditions and drought to Australia, Indonesia and southern Africa, while the west coast of South America, East Africa and the southern United States frequently experience heavy rainfall.
Europe tends to be less affected.
El Nino is set to peak towards the end of this year, the WMO said in a statement.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said it is stepping up preparedness and early warning efforts in preparation.
“WMO is committed to working closely with partners across the United Nations and humanitarian system to provide the climate intelligence and insights needed to support disaster management and climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, health, energy and water resources,” she said.
Global average temperatures are often particularly high in the year following an El Nino.
The year 2024, the hottest on record at around 1.6C above pre-industrial levels, followed an El Nino.
— with DPA
