Governments should prepare for extreme weather events and record temperatures in the coming months, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Tuesday, as it announced the start of the El Niño warming phenomenon.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that brings warmer than average sea surface temperatures and has a major impact on weather across the globe, affecting billions of people.
"The emergence of El Niño will greatly increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and causing more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean," said UN Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
The statement "is a signal to governments around the world to mobilize preparations to limit impacts on health, ecosystems and the economy".
To save lives, governments must establish early warning systems and prepare for other devastating weather events this year, he said.
