El Nino Expected to Influence Global Weather Patterns Until April 2024

The World Meteorological Organisation reports the ongoing El Nino event may continue until at least April 2024. This event is contributing to the rise in global land and ocean temperatures.

India’s Monsoon and El Nino

• The India Meteorological Department has indicated that El Nino is unlikely to affect the 2024 southwest monsoon.
• However, India experienced “below-average” rainfall during this year’s southwest monsoon due to El Nino.

Development and Strength of El Nino

• El Nino, characterized by the warming of central Pacific Ocean waters, has been confirmed by various oceanic and atmospheric indicators.
• The current El Nino event rapidly intensified around July-August and is expected to peak between November 2023 and January 2024.

Duration and Impact of El Nino

• Typically, El Nino events occur every two to seven years and last nine to 12 months.
• While it is a natural climate pattern, its occurrence is influenced by anthropogenic climate change.
• The impact of El Nino on global temperatures is usually more pronounced in the year following its development.

WMO’s Warning and Initiatives

• The year 2023 may become the warmest year on record, with 2024 potentially being even warmer.
• The organization emphasizes the importance of early warning systems to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme weather events.

Historical Context

• The warmest year on record was 2016, attributed to both a strong El Nino event and ongoing climate change.
• The intensity of El Nino does not directly determine the severity of its local impacts, and each El Nino event is unique in its effects.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2023

Category: Environment Current Affairs