The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) anticipates that global temperatures will remain above average despite the likely development of La Niña conditions beginning in September The organization announced these projections Tuesday
La Niña refers to a periodic cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean This phenomenon is associated with shifts in tropical atmospheric circulation, including alterations in wind patterns, air pressure and precipitation Generally, La Niña exhibits climatic effects opposite to those of El Niño
The WMO has observed neutral conditions – neither La Niña nor El Niño – since March However, current forecasts indicate a 55 percent probability of La Niña developing by September Experts emphasize that these natural climate events occur against the backdrop of human-caused climate change, which is driving up global temperatures, exacerbating extreme weather and influencing seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns
From September to November, temperatures are predicted to remain above average across much of the Northern Hemisphere and significant portions of the Southern Hemisphere