UN urges the world to ready for extreme heat risk from El Nino

GENEVA, June 2: The United Nations weather agency forecast on Tuesday a moderate or possibly a strong El Nino that could drive up global temperatures and increase the risk of extreme weather over the coming months.

El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically lasts between nine and 12 months, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The WMO said warm ocean waters were driving El Nino's development and predicted above-average temperatures in most parts of the world from June to August. The WMO said it is likely El Nino will continue until November.

It also said it remained uncertain how strong El Nino will be as models differ on its severity, but officials warned of the need to be ready.

"We need to prepare for a potentially strong El Nino event - which will exacerbate drought and heavy rainfall and increase the risk of heatwaves both on land and in the ocean," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

The weather pattern is known to disrupt regional climates, potentially bringing warmer temperatures across the globe, while increasing rainfall to the southern parts of South America and the United States, parts of the Horn of Africa and central Asia.

El Nino can also cause drought in Australia, Central America, Indonesia, and parts of south Asia, and spur hurricane formation in the central and eastern Pacific, the WMO said.    �"REUTERS