The United Nations’ weather agency announced on Monday that the return of the cooling La Nina weather phenomenon is expected to bring a decrease in global temperatures following several months of record heat. This change should occur in the coming months as the El Nino weather pattern, which has contributed to higher global temperatures and extreme weather events since mid-2023, is beginning to dissipate, according to the latest update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Despite this relief, the WMO cautioned that overall global temperatures will continue to rise in the long run due to human-induced climate change. La Nina involves the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, along with changes in wind, rain, and atmospheric pressure.
While El Nino leads to drought in some regions and heavy rainfall in others, La Nina tends to produce opposite climate effects, particularly in tropical areas. The WMO reported a “60 percent” chance of La Nina conditions from July to September and a “70 percent” likelihood from August to November, with very low chances of El Nino redeveloping.
Despite the end of El Nino, the WMO emphasized that global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions will persist, with the oceans playing a crucial role in absorbing excess heat from climate change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US has already factored the expected La Nina into its forecasts for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, anticipating above-normal activity.
Over the past nine years, global temperatures have continued to rise, with the influence of a previous La Nina event from 2020 to early 2023. The latest El Nino, which peaked in December, was among the strongest on record, contributing to extreme weather events worldwide.
The WMO has outlined a goal to establish early warning systems across all regions by 2027, focusing on areas with inadequate infrastructure such as Africa. Seasonal forecasts for El Nino and La Nina will play a crucial role in informing early warnings and action plans against the impacts of climate change globally.
Overall, the planet will face more extreme weather patterns due to increased heat and moisture in the atmosphere, underscoring the urgent need for global climate action.
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