La Nina is back; what does that mean for Africa, Asia

News: According to the World Meteorological Organization(WMO), the La Niña weather phenomenon is back in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean after nearly a decade’s absence.

Facts:

• La Niña: It means the large-scale cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean together with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation namely winds, pressure and rainfall.
• It has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Niño which is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation(ENSO).

Weather Changes in Asia and Africa due to La-Nina:

• In India, La Niña means the country will receive more rainfall than normal leading to floods.
• The Horn of Africa and central Asia will see below average rainfall due to La Niña.
• East Africa is forecast to see drier-than-usual conditions which together with the existing impacts of the desert locust invasion may add to regional food insecurity.
• La Niña could also lead to increased rainfall in southern Africa.
• La Niña could also affect the South West Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone season reducing the intensity.
• Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands and the northern region of South America are expected to receive above-average rainfall.
  

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