THE NATIONAL Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US, has declared that the prolonged La Niña event has finally ended. Commenced in September 2020 and prevailed till February 2023, it is the 21st century’s first ‘triple’ La Niña event spanning three straight years. The latest Niño – 3.4 index value is minus 0.2 degrees Celsius and the Niño – 1+2 index value at +1.1 degree Celsius. Both La Niña and El Niño, when combined with other climate drivers, directly affect the global weather. Officials at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and NCEP maintained that predicting the commencement of an El Niño event, expected later this year, will be ‘‘premature”.

Source: Indian Express March 14, 2023 03:57 UTC