La Nina forecasted to impact global heat by year-end 2023

Weather experts predict a La Nina cooling phenomenon may develop between October and February, following a prolonged period of the warming El Nino pattern. Despite its cooling effects, La Nina is unlikely to significantly reduce the ongoing rise in global and ocean temperatures, which have been alarming scientists. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that the current exceptional global land and sea surface temperatures will persist, driven by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The WMO has stated that even if La Nina emerges, it will not alter the long-term trajectory of rising temperatures. The potential cooling effect may not be enough to prevent 2024 from being as hot as, or even hotter than, the record-breaking temperatures of 2023. The European Union's climate service, Copernicus, has expressed confidence that 2023 will end as the hottest year on record, emphasizing the need for significant cooling to avoid a record-breaking 2024. In the UK, the impacts of La Nina on weather patterns are expected to be minimal. However, the country may experience economic repercussions from extreme weather events occurring elsewhere, such as floods and droughts, which could affect food prices and resources. Meteorologists suggest that the UK may not feel the effects of La Nina until the following summer, with predictions of cooler and wetter conditions. The potential increase in Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes could lead to a windier late summer and autumn in the UK next year. Overall, while La Nina may bring some cooling, the overarching trend of rising temperatures due to climate change remains a pressing concern for scientists and policymakers alike.