Geneva: El Ni±o conditions are expected to develop in the coming months, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events worldwide and adding to the effects of global warming, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday. The UN weather agency stated there is an 80 percent chance that El Ni±o will emerge during the June-August period, with the probability of it persisting through at least November near or above 90 percent.

According to Philippines News Agency, unusually warm ocean waters in the tropical Pacific are fueling the development of the climate pattern, which is known to influence global temperature and rainfall patterns and increase the risk of weather extremes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that El Ni±o's arrival is imminent and must be treated as a climate warning.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that the phenomenon could intensify droughts, heavy rainfall, and heat waves on land and in the oceans. Saulo stressed the importance of preparing for a potentially strong El Ni±o event, which could exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall, and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean.

El Ni±o is the warm phase of the El Ni±o-Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring climate pattern characterized by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It typically develops every two to seven years and can last around nine to 12 months. WMO's forecasts for June through August indicate above-normal temperatures across nearly all regions of the world, raising concerns over heat stress and accelerating drought conditions where rainfall is reduced.

The agency highlighted that El Ni±o is typically associated with wetter conditions in parts of southern South America, the southern US, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia, while bringing drier weather to Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia. The climate pattern could increase the likelihood of flooding in some regions while worsening drought in others, underscoring the need for preparedness measures and early warning systems to protect lives and livelihoods.