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The WMO have announced that there is a high probability of an El Niño event in early 2019. Although the event has not been forecasted to be as strong as the 2016 event, El Niño is known to have a major impact on temperatures and rainfall across the globe.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a large-scale climatic phenomenon that originates in the tropical Pacific but affects global climate patterns. The warm phase is known as El Niño and the cold phase is La Niña. El Niño occurs irregularly every two to seven years and peaks around in winter. 

Maxx Dilley, the director of WMO’s climate prediction and adaptation branch has stated that although the forecasted El Niño event in 2019 might not be as strong as that of 2016 “it can still significantly affect rainfall and temperature patterns in many regions, with important consequences to agriculture and food security, and for management of water resources and public health. It may also combine with long-term climate change to boost 2019 global temperatures.”

For more information about El Niño and the global impacts please follow the links below to our article and recent podcast with Professor Adam Scaife.

What is El Niño - Southern Oscillation?

RMetS Podcast - Episode 8 - El Niño: Interview with Adam Scaife