Central News Agency (Taipei, July 3, CNA Foreign News) The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UN's weather agency, warned today that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to rapidly develop into a strong event between July and September, potentially increasing the probability of extreme weather events. According to Agence France-Presse, the WMO stated that El Niño has arrived and is expected to strengthen rapidly, urging countries to prepare for its impacts. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by rising sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, leading to changes in global wind, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall patterns. This phenomenon typically occurs every 2 to 7 years and lasts for about 9 to 12 months. The WMO classifies El Niño events into four categories: very strong, strong, moderate, and weak. The current El Niño event is projected to reach the second-highest level, "strong." WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated: "El Niño has already begun and is expected to strengthen rapidly and develop into a strong event. This will significantly increase the probability of droughts, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves on land and in the ocean." The Geneva-based meteorological organization indicated that forecasts from various models run by major global climate centers show that sea temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific will continue to rise significantly, with "average seasonal sea surface temperature anomalies in the main monitoring areas expected to exceed 2 degrees Celsius." The WMO emphasized that it will enhance early warning support to assist in disaster preparedness, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. (Intern Editor: Wang Bo-jie / Editor: Hong Qi-yuan) 1150703 Choose to stand with the facts. Your every contribution is a force to protect press freedom. Download the CNA "First-Hand News" APP for real-time updates. Text, images, and audio on