Ocean warming: El Niño event confirmed in the Pacific

An El Niño event has now been confirmed in the Pacific Ocean.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the El Niño weather phenomenon has now appeared after previously being considered likely to do so in autumn.

This comes after three years of the cooling La Niña phenomenon came to an end with the situation currently neutral.

2022 was one of the warmest years since records began in 1850, despite coinciding with La Niña, which often causes lower average global temperatures.

El Niño delivers the opposite effect, warming ocean waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean which could lead to global temperature records in 2024.

Strong and moderate El Niño phases contribute to warming and increase average global surface temperatures, according to the WMO.

While the direct effects are felt in the Pacific Ocean close to the equator, they influence weather around the world.

During an El Niño event, trade winds weaken. Heavy rains occur more frequently along the coasts of South America, which can be very damaging, while severe droughts can affect Southeast Asia, including Australia.

Although there is no specific impact on the UK and Ireland, La Niña can result in more storms on our shores, while El Niño is somewhat associated with colder winters.