El Nino is set to become "very strong" in the months ahead, with the weather phenomenon near certain to persist through to February, the United Nations' climate agency warned Thursday.The World Meteorological Organization said El Nino would peak towards the end of this year -- though its knock-on impacts for the climate will continue well into 2027.
"El Nino is firmly established and will intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, with big impacts on rainfall and temperature patterns and associated risks of floods, drought and extreme heat," the WMO said.
El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon and is not caused by climate change.
But scientists expect it will exacerbate the heat of a planet already warming from burning fossil fuels, while amping up weather extremes.
"El Nino is being supersized before our eyes," said UN chief Antonio Guterres.
