Commentary: El Nino will result in unprecedented heatwaves

Professor Ben Horton, Director of NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore, wrote in a commentary that El Nino, a recurring weather pattern related to the warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean, is set to resume in 2023.

He has always been concerned about El Nino leading to unprecedented heatwaves in Singapore and South-east Asia. So much so that in 2019, he wrote an article for The Straits Times, titled Climate X factor and made an ominous prediction that the return of El Nino would bring a surge of warmth to an already overheated planet.

It is predicted that the return of El Nino will result in unprecedented heatwaves, making 2023 even hotter than 2022. It is likely to push global average temperatures well above the 1.5 deg C threshold, which will significantly raise the risks of drought, floods, and extreme heatwaves. It will also increase the risk of food and water insecurity and poverty for millions of people worldwide.