New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast regarding La Niña, a climate phenomenon known for bringing cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, which is expected to make its presence felt during September, potentially setting the stage for a harsh winter season.
According to the weather department, September will witness rainfall with several parts of north India forecast to receive heavy rainfall. While La Niña typically impacts the monsoon season, its arrival towards the end of this monsoon cycle is unusual. IMD suggests that the monsoon’s influence has been weakened by the lack of La Niña’s cool touch, but its arrival before winter could result in a particularly cold spell, especially from mid-December to January.
The IMD predicts a 66 per cent chance of La Niña developing between September and November, with an even higher 75 per cent probability of it persisting in the Northern Hemisphere from November to January 2025. This late arrival of La Niña, according to the weather department, means the southwest monsoon is unlikely to be affected, but the northeast monsoon, which arrives in South India in late October, could experience its influence.
La Niña, the opposite of El Niño, is characterized by cooler ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, driven by strong easterly winds pushing warm water westward. This cooling effect contrasts sharply with El Niño, which brings warmer temperatures to the Pacific, driven by weaker trade winds and the movement of warm water eastward.
Both La Niña and El Niño, lasting 9-12 months, can disrupt the global climate balance. While El Niño heats up the Pacific and contributes to warmer global temperatures, La Niña cools the ocean surface and the atmosphere above it. These disruptions can lead to shifts in weather patterns worldwide, affecting rainfall, temperatures, and even the occurrence of extreme events.
