El Nino expected to last at least until April 2024 – World Met
WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas said El Nino impacts on global temperature typically play out in the year after its development, in this case in 2024.
“Extreme events such as heatwaves, drought, wildfires, heavy rain and floods will be enhanced in some regions, with major impacts. That is why WMO is committed to the early warnings for all initiative to save lives and minimise economic losses,” he said.
El Nino last occurred in 2018-2019 and was followed by an exceptionally long La Nina — El Nino’s cooling opposite — which ended earlier this year.
“Above-normal sea-surface temperatures are also expected across most of the global oceans, while above-normal temperatures are expected, too, over almost all land areas,” it said.
Other impacts are likely to include above-normal rainfall in the Horn of Africa region and the La Plata basin in South America.
Last week, the Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed the heavy rainfall experienced in the country is El Nino.
Kenya Met had earlier predicted that El Nino would hit the country from mid-October to December.
However, President William Ruto said the country will not experience El Nino rains as earlier predicted.
Kenya Met Director David Gikungu said the confusion that existed comes out of associating El Nino with rains.
He said El Nino is not always about rainfall but there are other factors which show El Nino.
