GENEVA, Sept 10, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – An El Nino event that could disrupt
global weather is likely by the end of what has already been a hot year, the
UN said Monday.
The World Meteorological Organisation forecast “a 70 percent chance of an
El Nino developing by the end of this year,” a WMO statement said.
El Nino is triggered by periodic warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean
which can trigger drought in some regions, heavy rain in others.
“WMO does not expect the anticipated El Nino to be as powerful as the
2015-2016 event, but it will still have considerable impacts,” the statement
said.
The organisation sees increased odds of higher surface temperatures in
most of Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Africa and along much of South
America’s coastline.
Interior parts of South America, Greenland, many south Pacific islands and
some in the Caribbean were identified as possible exceptions.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas noted that 2018 “is on track to be
one of the warmest on record,” after especially high temperatures in July and
August across several parts of the world.