The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation warns the event could cause extreme weather and change temperatures. An EL Niño weather event has an “80 per cent” chance of hitting the planet this summer. The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation warns the event could bring floods to UK, US and Europe, and droughts elsewhere on the planet. Scientists warn the even is likely cause extreme weather and change temperatures as atmospheric patterns are thrown into chaos in 2019. While it is not likely to be as severe, the El Niño could still bring dangerous weather to vulnerable areas.
The last event was in 2016 causing global temperatures to reach the highest levels ever recorded. Forecasters in the US and Australia have already warned of an approaching El Niño. Maxx Dilley, director of the WMO’s Climate Prediction and Adaptation branch, said: “The forecast El Niño is not expected to be as powerful as the event in 2015-2016. “It can still significantly affect rainfall and temperature patterns in many regions, with important consequences to agricultural and food security sectors, and for management of water resources and public health, and it may combine with long-term climate change to boost 2019 global temperatures.”
Under the most extreme case-scenario sea temperatures will increase up to 1.2C above average. Met scientist Professor Adam Scaife added: “An El Niño can create wetter and windier conditions in the first half of winter and it can bring a colder and drier second half, but El Niño is just one factor and others will vie to affect our winter.” “For example, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation with its 14-month pattern of alternating easterly and westerly winds along the equator can weaken or strengthen the jet stream.” El Niño is part of a natural cycle of weather events, but some suggest human activity makes it worse.
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