The El Nino event that began last year will end around April this year, but its influence on the climate will persist, and it will have a significant impact during the summer in China, according to China Meteorological Administration.

El Nino, a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide, reached its peak in December 2023, said the National Climate Center. As it will end around this April, a triple-dip La Nina to El Nino event transition process that begins in August 2020 will be completed, according to the center.

According to historical data, the summer that follows an El Nino event is often the most abnormal in China. Between May and June, the increase in the Indian Ocean's surface temperature will affect the western Pacific subtropical high which exerts important influences on climate in the country, and the interaction between the tropical Pacific and the tropical Indian Ocean can continue to impact China's climate, said the administration.

There is a 62 percent chance that La Nina will arrive by June or August, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. La Nina has the opposite effect of an El Nino. During La Nina events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia. The event can also lead to a more severe hurricane season.

It will be necessary to strengthen preparedness for flood control and other severe weather conditions, the China Meteorological Administration warned.

(Cover image via CFP)