The current episode of El Niño could be "the most intense" in the last forty years, since measurements of this climate phenomenon began. The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) made this announcement today, warning about the severity of the situation.
The El Niño phenomenon is a natural climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific warm up above average. This warming has an impact worldwide, affecting rainfall patterns, temperatures and weather conditions in several regions.
The WMO is the UN agency responsible for monitoring and coordinating meteorological activities globally. This organization collects data and makes predictions about climate phenomena that affect the planet.
The WMO warning comes in a context of growing concern about the effects of climate change. Although El Niño is a natural phenomenon, scientists warn that climate change can intensify its impacts, making extreme events more frequent and severe.
