ISLAMABAD -The El Niño weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean is approaching an exceptionally strong level.
The phenomenon prompted warnings over the potential for severe weather conditions in various parts of the world.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that El Niño is nearing extreme intensity as sea temperatures across parts of the Pacific remain significantly above normal.
Temperatures recorded between July and mid-August were around 2.2 to 2.6 degrees Celsius above normal, while subsurface ocean temperatures in some areas were reported to be as much as 8 degrees Celsius higher than average.
The current El Niño episode is expected to persist until February 2027, with meteorological assessments indicating an almost 100 percent likelihood of the phenomenon continuing through that period.
Experts warn that increasing El Niño intensity could raise the risk of unusual and potentially severe weather patterns around the world, including extreme heat, flooding and drought.
El Niño is a recurring climate phenomenon in which surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal.
The warming alters atmospheric circulation and affects the movement of winds and clouds, with consequences for weather patterns far beyond the Pacific region.
The phenomenon can influence temperatures and rainfall across different continents, making exceptionally strong El Niño events a major concern for global weather forecasting and climate preparedness.
