An El Nino event could recur this year to further disrupt weather patterns, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.
The UN organization forecast "a 70 percent chance" of the climate phenomenon developing by the end of this year, which is destined to be one of the hottest on record.
El Nino is triggered by periodic warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean which can trigger drought in some regions, heavy rain in others.
El Nino brings drought to African countries and heavy rains to North America. /VCG Photo
"WMO does not expect the anticipated El Nino to be as powerful as the 2015-2016 event, but it will still have considerable impacts," a WMO statement said.
The organization sees increased odds of higher surface temperatures in most of Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Africa and along much of South America's coastline.
Interior parts of South America, Greenland, many south Pacific islands and some in the Caribbean were identified as possible exceptions.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas noted that 2018 "is on track to be one of the warmest on record," after especially high temperatures in July and August across several parts of the world.
(Top image: VCG Photo)