Warning: El Nino may be returning soon.

VTV.vn - The WMO warns that El Nino has an 80% chance of forming before September, increasing the risk of extreme weather events globally.

El Niño typically causes more drought in Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia, and parts of South Asia. (Image: Shutterstock)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations agency responsible for weather, climate, and water resources, said on June 2nd that El Niño has an 80% chance of forming before September and a 90% chance of lasting until November. Most forecasting models indicate that the phenomenon will be at least moderate and potentially strong. The WMO warned that the world needs to prepare for the possibility of an early return of El Niño, which could lead to an increased risk of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon that occurs every few years, usually lasting about 9 to 12 months. It forms when surface waters in parts of the Pacific Ocean warm up unusually, altering weather patterns across many regions of the world.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that El Niño would exacerbate the effects of global warming. He stated that these impacts could be more severe, more widespread, and cross borders at a rapid pace.

Heavy rains associated with El Nino caused flooding and landslides in Tanzania in April 2024. (Photo: EPA)

The most recent El Niño event, occurring between 2023 and 2024, was one of the five strongest ever recorded and contributed to making 2024 a record-breaking hot year globally.

The WMO forecasts unusually high temperatures could occur in almost every region of the world over the next three months, while warning of increased risk of extreme rainfall and drought. Typically, El Niño can bring more rain to some areas of South America, the southern United States, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia, while Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia, and parts of South Asia may experience drier conditions.

Scientists also say that warm waters can increase the risk of storms in the central and eastern Pacific, but limit storm formation in the Atlantic.

The new warning comes as Western Europe has just experienced an unusually hot May, with several temperature records broken during the month in the UK and Ireland.

Source: https://vtv.vn/canh-bao-el-nino-co-the-sap-tro-lai-100260602155141256.htm