El Niño Shows No Sign of Slowing Down, Expected to Expand to North & South America

The existing El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to stay and extend its effects to North and South America.

BBC reported that Nasa, America's space agency, has released a warning that the extreme weather condition could be likened to the worst scenario in 1998.

It noted that the current El Niño has been blamed for various floodings and unusually warm weather in the northern hemisphere.

According to the National Ocean Service, the El Niño phenomenon started with the "appearance of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean." It then became the term for the warm ocean atmosphere that has been linked to hot temperatures in various places in the world especially Pacific countries.

"The presence of El Niño can significantly influence weather patterns, ocean conditions, and marine fisheries across large portions of the globe for an extended period of time," added the same report.

And it will continue to do so in the coming months, as per BBC as Nasa predicted that its effects are not slowing down based from a recent satellite image of the Pacific Ocean.

The agency even noted that the image resembles the scenario in December 1997 which was considered to be a powerful El Niño which carried its effects the year after.

In a similar report, Laboratory Equipment said the El Niño 18 years ago affected New England and Southeastern Canada bringing a heavy ice storm which stopped transportation and cut power in these areas.

The extreme weather phenomenon this year is also reportedly linked to severe flooding in countries like Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.

The Paraguay River, as per Washington Post, has almost topped its banks while the Uruguay River in Argentina has recorded a water level way beyond normal. It noted that a close to 160,000 people have left their homes because of the flooding.

"El Nino 2015 has already created weather chaos around the world. Over the next few months, forecasters expect the United States to feel its impacts as well," Nasa was quoted as saying by Laboratory Equipment.

It added that while South America is inundated with heavy flooding, Indonesia is having wildfires which cause droughts in the country.

CTV News added the phenomenon is also responsible for the low amount of rainfall in Southeast Asian countries, dryness in South Africa and heat waves in India.

These current situations in various parts of the world are warnings for other countries as Nasa said that the US should expect a colder and wetter weather in the south for the beginning of the year. On the other hand, the northern side of the country should anticipate warmer and drier climate.