World Meteorological Organization (WMO) chief Celeste Saulo said the current El Nino event could be unprecedented in strength. (EPA Images pic)GENEVA: The El Nino weather phenomenon gripping the planet is heading off the charts, the UN warned Wednesday, saying countries should take urgent action to prepare for the worst.
El Nino is set to peak in December, but the human impact of its associated extreme temperatures, floods and droughts is set to last into 2027 and beyond.
The UN called for international preventative measures to protect the millions of people most exposed – before disaster strikes.
"The current El Nino event could be unprecedented in strength: literally off the monitoring charts that we have used for the past four decades," said Celeste Saulo, head of the UN's weather and climate agency.
