GENEVA, Oct 21 (Bernama-dpa) — The El Niño weather phenomenon could reach unprecedented intensity, with sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific potentially rising to record levels, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Wednesday, reported German Press Agency (dpa.
Sea temperatures in the region have never been this high in the 40 years since records began, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in Geneva.
According to climate models, temperatures in the Pacific could rise to 3.8 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, surpassing the previous record anomaly of around three degrees.
An El Niño event is considered to have begun when sea surface temperatures rise at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal, Saulo said.
The naturally occurring weather phenomenon, which develops every few years, can trigger severe droughts or exceptionally heavy rainfall, depending on the region. Europe is generally less affected by its impacts.
— BERNAMA-dpa