The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), affiliated to the United Nations (UN), said in a statement today that the El Nino weather event, which is known to increase the global air temperature, may be effective later this year and warned against the possibility.

WMO Secretary General Prof. "This long-standing La Niña will have opposite effects on weather and climate patterns in many parts of the world, possibly triggering higher global temperatures," said Petteri Taalas.

Cooling La Nina for the past three years and temporarily curbing global temperature rise, we've left behind eight of the hottest years on record. "The development of an El Nino will most likely lead to a new increase in global warming and increase the likelihood of setting temperature records."

Stating that the world should be prepared for El Nino, Secretary General Taalas emphasized that extreme weather and climate events can also be triggered.