ORIGIN: https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/
Meteorologists have warned that a significant shift is underway in the tropical Pacific, with clear signs that an El Niño event is developing. The phenomenon is a huge driver of weather patterns and temperatures globally.
El Nino often causes conditions in the Pacific to become more favourable for powerful tropical storms Meteorologists are predicting a very strong El Niño event – comparable to the strongest in history.
‘El Niño’ is declared underway when sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean are warmer than average.
It is part of a natural cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which alternates between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) phases.
These phases can vary in strength and duration, and the gap between episodes is irregular, the Met Office explained.
How do scientists know when El Niño is coming?
Scientists monitoring sea surface temperatures across a key region of the central Pacific have observed them rising steadily in recent months.
Temperatures have crossed the thresholds that are used internationally to identify El Niño conditions.
Satellite measurements also reveal that sea levels the Pacific are increasing,
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