La Niña switch expected to fuel extreme weather later this year

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on  or enjoy The Financial Times below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The El Niño Pacific Ocean warming effect is expected to shift to its opposite, La Niña, from late summer, which could lead to increased extreme weather events, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

🔭 The context: La Niña typically brings a surge in Atlantic hurricanes, flooding in Canada and western North America, and drought conditions in parts of South America
• This transition follows a period of significant El Niño-induced disruptions to global weather patterns and commodity prices

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While La Niña might temporarily cool global temperatures, it does not halt long-term climate change driven by greenhouse gases, highlighting the persistent challenge of global warming

⏭️ What's next: There is a 70% chance of La Niña occurring between August and November, with expected increased rainfall in parts of the Caribbean, the Horn of Africa, and south-west Asia
• However, the exact strength and duration of La Niña remain uncertain

💬 One quote: “We’ve really been swinging back and forth between one extreme to the other,” said Nathaniel Johnson, a meteorologist at NOAA

📈 One stat: The past nine years have been the warmest on record despite a long "triple-dip" La Niña effect from 2020 to early 2023

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change