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Meteorologists on alert: El Niño could bring extreme weather unseen in decades

Meteorologists on alert: El Niño could bring extreme weather unseen in decades

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen, with a 63% chance of a very strong event between November and January.
  • This could lead to extreme weather events like droughts and floods globally, and potentially record global average temperatures.
  • The phenomenon, last observed in 2023-2024, exacerbates climate change impacts, though its effects on Europe are limited.

Meteorologists are closely monitoring the development of El Niño, a recurring climate pattern, which is expected to intensify in the coming months. Current conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean show unusually high sea temperatures, a key indicator of the phenomenon's presence.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that there is a 63% probability of a very strong El Niño event occurring between November and January. Such an event would rank among the most significant recorded since 1950. El Niño typically occurs every two to seven years and is known for its potential to trigger extreme weather conditions worldwide, including severe droughts and widespread flooding.

There is a 63 percent chance of a very strong El Niño during November and January that would rank among the largest such events in recorded history dating back to 1950.

— NOAAQuantifying the probability and potential strength of the upcoming El Niño event.

This latest El Niño follows a strong event observed from 2023 to 2024, which contributed to 2024 being the warmest year on record since the industrial era. Experts warn that El Niño exacerbates the effects of human-caused climate change. While its impacts are felt globally, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere, the NOAA notes that its effects on Europe are generally limited.

The phenomenon's potential to influence global temperatures raises concerns about reaching new record highs. The NOAA's forecast suggests a significant strengthening of El Niño, prompting heightened vigilance among climate scientists and weather agencies as they prepare for potential widespread disruptions.

El Niño exacerbates the consequences of climate change caused by human activity.

— Article TextExplaining the interaction between El Niño and anthropogenic climate change.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.