The World Meteorological Organization has warned of increasing risks of extreme weather in the coming months due to an intensifying El Niño.
Erratic rainfall, characterised by uneven distribution, fluctuating intensity, and extreme weather, has become the norm amid climate change driven by global warming, causing unprecedented natural disasters. This trend shows no sign of abating. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), India experienced below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall between June and September, recording a 12 per cent deficit, which is the fourth-lowest since 2001. Compounding this issue, rainfall was unevenly distributed across regions and states, and even within states. For instance, the central part of the country received normal rainfall, while the East and Northeast recorded a 25 per cent deficit, receiving just 1,016.3 mm of rainfall during the period against the normal 1,361.2 mm. Meghalaya, home to the wettest places on Earth, received only 1,075.9 mm of rainfall, compared to the normal 2,681.6 mm, which is a 60 per cent deficit. Other north-eastern states, namely Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram, also recorded deficits ranging from 45 per cent to 16 per cent, while Sikkim (10 per cent excess) and Nagaland (6 per cent excess) received more rainfall than normal. This dramatic shift in rainfall patterns is a warning sign of what lies ahead—extreme weather conditions marked by devastating floods and drought. The implications can be colossal—from food crises to water scarcity to loss of lives and property.
The future appears bleak, with the World Meteorological Organization warning of increasing risks of extreme weather in the coming months due to an intensifying El Niño, which is expected to peak by the end of this year, with its impact likely to extend into early 2027. In view of this imminent development, UN officials have urged "exceptional preparation and response" to this "exceptional El Niño," stating that the planet is in uncharted waters. Consequently, California has declared a state of emergency to mitigate the risk of natural calamities by accelerating preparations ahead of a potentially historic El Niño season. While no country can escape nature's wrath, exacerbated by humans' irresponsible activities, economically weaker nations and geologically vulnerable regions will suffer more. Such developments should serve as a warning for regions in the Himalayan belt, including ecologically fragile Northeast India, which falls under the highest earthquake risk zone. The recent catastrophic flash floods in the Nepal–Tibet border region, reportedly triggered by a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayan mountains, claimed over a thousand lives with thousands still missing, serving as a stark testament to the impact of climate change. This calls for people living in the Himalayan region to be prepared for any climatic eventualities. While measures like early warning systems and resilience are crucial for mitigating disasters, the global community must collectively shoulder the responsibility of taking climate action, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment.