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Tag: World Meteorological Organization

  • Prepare for El Niño: UN Warns Potentially Strongest Event in Decades Could Intensify Global Weather

    Prepare for El Niño: UN Warns Potentially Strongest Event in Decades Could Intensify Global Weather

    The United Nations is warning governments and communities around the world to prepare for a potentially powerful El Niño event that could develop into one of the strongest on record, bringing widespread disruptions to weather patterns already intensified by climate change.

    According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen throughout 2026, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events across multiple continents. Several national forecasting agencies now suggest the phenomenon could reach “super El Niño” status, a rare category reserved for the most intense events.

    Scientists have been closely monitoring ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, where El Niño develops. Data collected over recent months shows a dramatic shift from cooler-than-average conditions late last year to significantly warmer waters stretching across the central and eastern Pacific.

    By April, warming in the key Niño monitoring region had become unmistakable, and temperatures have continued to rise since then.

    El Niño occurs when changes in atmospheric wind patterns allow unusually warm ocean water to spread eastward across the equatorial Pacific. This warming alters atmospheric circulation, affecting rainfall, temperatures, and storm activity around the world.

    Researchers say this year’s event shows signs of becoming exceptionally strong.

    Professor Adam Scaife of the UK Met Office said scientists are highly confident that a major El Niño is developing and noted that it could potentially rival or exceed previous record-setting events.

    Historical data shows that only a handful of “very strong” El Niño episodes have occurred since 1950. Current forecasting models estimate that ocean temperature anomalies could peak near levels seen during the powerful El Niño events of 1982-83 and 2015-16, with some projections suggesting even stronger warming.

    One factor driving concern is the enormous pool of unusually warm water that has formed beneath the Pacific Ocean surface. Satellite observations, ocean buoys, and underwater monitoring systems have detected temperatures more than six degrees Celsius above average in some areas hundreds of meters below the surface.

    Scientists say this subsurface heat often rises to the surface over time, strengthening El Niño and amplifying its influence on global weather systems.

    Michelle L’Heureux, a scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, said the magnitude of the subsurface warmth rivals conditions observed before some of the strongest El Niño events in modern history.

    UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the developing phenomenon could worsen the impacts of an already warming planet.

    “El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” Guterres said, emphasizing that climate-related impacts are increasingly crossing borders and affecting communities worldwide.

    Potential Global Impacts

    While every El Niño event differs, strong episodes have historically produced significant weather disruptions across multiple regions.

    In South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia, El Niño often increases the risk of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. India can experience a weakened monsoon season, potentially affecting agriculture and water supplies.

    Parts of the Greater Horn of Africa may face drier conditions, while sections of East Asia and the southern United States often see heavier rainfall and an increased risk of flooding.

    The effects can extend even further. El Niño influences global agricultural production, fisheries, transportation networks, and energy systems. Previous major events have been associated with food shortages, rising commodity prices, and economic losses reaching hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide.

    Climate Change Raises the Stakes

    Scientists caution that even if this year’s El Niño does not become a record-breaker, it could still produce unprecedented impacts because it is occurring on a planet that is already significantly warmer due to human-caused climate change.

    The combination of natural climate variability and long-term global warming could push temperatures higher, intensify extreme weather events, and increase stress on vulnerable communities.

    Although forecasting months in advance remains challenging, experts agree that governments, businesses, and disaster management agencies should begin preparing now for potentially severe weather disruptions later this year and into 2027.

  • Rare Asperitas Clouds Ripple Over Ottawa’s Skies, Creating a Stunning Visual Phenomenon

    Rare Asperitas Clouds Ripple Over Ottawa’s Skies, Creating a Stunning Visual Phenomenon

    Residents of Ottawa were treated to an extraordinary natural spectacle on Sunday evening as rare asperitas clouds formed and rippled across the sky. These striking cloud formations, resembling ocean waves suspended in the atmosphere, are known for their undulating, rough appearance and have become a fascination among weather enthusiasts. The clouds were captured in stunning video footage by CTV News Ottawa’s Matt Skube, with the dramatic display visible over the city’s west end.

    Asperitas clouds are a relatively recent addition to the world of meteorology. They were first proposed by the Cloud Appreciation Society in 2008 and gained formal recognition by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 2015, becoming the first new cloud type added to the WMO’s prestigious International Cloud Atlas in over 50 years. Their Latin name, “asperitas,” meaning roughness, fittingly describes the turbulent, wave-like formations that make these clouds so distinctive.

    What makes asperitas clouds particularly unique is their irregular, textured surface that often mirrors the appearance of ocean waves during a storm. While their aesthetic appeal is undeniable, scientists continue to study their formation and behavior to better understand the meteorological conditions that lead to their development. It is believed that asperitas clouds form when cooler pockets of air sink and interact with warmer air, combined with wind shear, creating the swirling, wave-like structures that ripple across the cloud’s base.

    The visual drama of asperitas clouds is not a common sight, and their appearance over Ottawa is a rare occurrence that has left many residents and weather enthusiasts in awe. These clouds are often associated with turbulent atmospheric conditions, but they don’t necessarily signal severe weather. Instead, they are more likely to occur after a storm has passed or during periods of instability in the atmosphere.

    Sunday’s cloud show has drawn attention to the beauty and mystery of asperitas clouds, a formation that has only grown in recognition since it was first identified. The Cloud Appreciation Society, a group dedicated to the beauty and study of clouds, has long championed the inclusion of asperitas in the official cloud classification system. Their efforts came to fruition when the WMO accepted asperitas clouds into the International Cloud Atlas, marking a significant milestone in cloud science.

    Videos and photographs of the asperitas clouds over Ottawa have since been widely shared, showcasing the waves of clouds rolling across the sky, creating a breathtaking canvas of nature’s complexity. The sight was both eerie and enchanting, with the undulating clouds giving the impression of a restless ocean captured above the horizon.

    Meteorologists believe that understanding cloud formations like asperitas can offer insights into weather patterns and atmospheric changes. While these clouds do not pose any immediate weather threats, they symbolize the dynamic nature of our atmosphere and highlight the continuous movement and interaction of air masses that shape the weather we experience on Earth.

    As more people become aware of the beauty and significance of rare cloud formations like asperitas, there is a growing appreciation for the diversity of cloud types and their role in weather observation and forecasting. Whether viewed by weather enthusiasts or curious residents, asperitas clouds continue to inspire awe, wonder, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

    The rare cloud display over Ottawa serves as a reminder of the extraordinary phenomena that nature presents, often without warning. For those lucky enough to have witnessed it, the asperitas clouds will remain an unforgettable moment of beauty suspended in time, rippling above the skyline, leaving many to marvel at the forces of nature that created such a stunning visual spectacle.

    Source: Swifteradio

  • Canada Faces Intense Heat Wave, Hurricane Beryl Remnants Incoming

    MONTREAL – Sweltering summer weather blanketed much of Canada on Monday, prompting Environment Canada to issue heat warnings for parts of eight provinces and the Northwest Territories.

    In British Columbia, a record-breaking heat wave is expected to persist into midweek, with temperatures in the province’s southern Interior forecast to reach the low 40s. The weather agency attributes these scorching temperatures to a ridge of high pressure, with heat warnings covering much of southern B.C., including Metro Vancouver. On Sunday, over 20 daily heat records were shattered. The heat extends east into the Prairies, where some parts of Alberta are expected to see temperatures around 35 C by Wednesday. Heat warnings were in effect Monday across most of Alberta and into Saskatchewan, where Regina is forecast to experience daily highs around 30 C throughout the week.

    In the tiny community of Fort Liard, located in the southwestern corner of the Northwest Territories, temperatures are expected to reach 30 C until Wednesday, well above its average high of 23 C.

    Environment Canada is set to provide an update on the Western Canada heat wave on Monday afternoon.

    In Atlantic Canada, daytime highs around 30 C are forecast, with humidex readings close to 40 in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

    Meanwhile, the European climate service Copernicus reports that global temperatures in June hit a record high for the 13th consecutive month. The agency noted that June was the 12th straight month with global temperatures 1.5 C above the pre-industrial average, a benchmark most countries aim to limit global warming to as part of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Eastern Canada, which experienced an intense heat wave in mid-June, was one of the regions with temperatures significantly above average.

    June also marked the 15th consecutive month of record-high sea surface temperatures, according to Copernicus. A strong El Niño weather pattern has contributed to the recent spike in global temperatures, as noted by the United Nations weather agency. However, the World Meteorological Organization warned last month that the last nine years have been the warmest on record, despite the cooling influence of a multi-year La Niña event.

    “The end of El Niño does not mean a pause in long-term climate change as our planet will continue to warm due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases,” said WMO deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett in a June statement.

    Later this week, remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which wreaked havoc in parts of the Caribbean last week, are forecast to move into Ontario and Quebec, bringing rain and the risk of thunderstorms.

    Source: The Canadian Press