This year it might get very cold
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced the onset of the effects of La Nina in September. The department warned on Monday that this year is likely to be a harsh winter. Usually occurring at the end of the monsoon season, La Nina is known to bring a sharp drop in temperatures, often associated with an increase in rainfall, raising concerns about the possibility of extreme winters ahead. The Meteorological Department has expressed concern that climate change may lead to an extreme cold this year.
La Niña, which means ‘little girl’ in Spanish, is a weather-changing phenomenon similar to El Niño. Both La Niña and El Niño are exactly opposite events. During a La Niña event, strong easterly winds push ocean water westward, cooling the ocean surface, particularly in the equatorial Pacific. This effect is the opposite of the warming conditions brought about by El Niño, translated as ‘little boy,’ which occurs when the winds weaken, causing warm water to shift back eastward toward the west coast of the US.
What is La Nina and El Nino
Both La Niña and El Niño are important oceanic and atmospheric phenomena that typically begin between April and June, gaining strength between October and February. Although these events typically last between 9 and 12 months, they can sometimes persist for up to two years. Under normal conditions, these winds blow westward along the equator, pushing warm water from South America toward Asia, a process that allows cold water from the depths of the ocean to rise and maintain climate balance.
Because of this there will be severe cold
However, the onset of La Nina disrupts this balance, thereby impacting global climate. While El Nino is associated with warmer air and ocean temperatures in the Pacific, resulting in warmer overall global temperatures, La Nina has the opposite effect by cooling both the ocean surface and the atmosphere above it. As La Nina becomes active, IMD’s warning of potential extreme winter conditions underscores the importance of preparing for potential weather challenges ahead.
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