WMO predicts La Nina phenomenon could return in coming months

On September 2, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations predicted that the cold weather phenomenon La Nina could return between September and November this year. However, even if that possibility occurs, temperatures are still forecast to be higher than average.

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

La Nina is a natural climate phenomenon that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean; bringing changes in winds, pressure, and rainfall.

Weather patterns alternate between La Nina and El Nino – opposing weather phenomena, with neutral weather conditions in between.

In its quarterly update, the WMO said that after a brief period of weakening La Nina conditions, neutral conditions have prevailed since March this year.

There is a 55% chance that sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific will drop to La Nina levels during the September-November period.

The possibility of this phenomenon occurring in the period from October to December this year has increased slightly to about 60%. The possibility of El Nino developing in the period from September to December is very low.

In many places, especially the tropics, La Nina causes the opposite climate effects to El Nino, warming the ocean surface, leading to drought in some areas of the world , but causing heavy rain in other areas.

The unusually long La Nina from 2020-2023 marks the third consecutive year of such a phenomenon in the 21st century, and has increased droughts and floods.

Still, that won’t break the 10-year streak of the hottest years on record. Temperatures remained at or near record highs even after the El Nino weakened last year, with 2024 set to be the hottest year on record.

WMO stressed that natural climate phenomena such as La Nina and El Nino occur in the context of human-caused climate change that is increasing global temperatures, exacerbating extreme weather and impacting seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns.

The latest update from the WMO predicts that temperatures in the September-November period this year will be above normal in much of the Northern Hemisphere and much of the Southern Hemisphere.

WMO Director-General Celeste Saulo stressed that the organization's forecasts of El Nino and La Nina and their associated impacts are an important climate information tool that can save millions of dollars in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, transport, etc., and save thousands of lives when used to guide preparations for extreme weather events./.

According to VNA

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/wmo-du-bao-hien-tuong-la-nina-co-the-quay-tro-lai-trong-nhung-thang-toi-260423.htm