The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring natural phenomenon characterized by fluctuating ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, coupled with changes in the atmosphere, which significantly influence climate patterns in various parts of the world.
Regarded as one of the most powerful El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in recorded history, the 2023–2024 El Niño has resulted in widespread droughts, flooding and other natural disasters across the globe. With the onset declared on July 4, 2023 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), trends indicate that the most significant meteorological effects would occur between November 2023 and April 2024, with effects spanning cyclones, droughts, flooding, heatwaves, heavy rains, wildfires, as well as changes in wind patterns.
El Niño can have widespread impacts on climate and weather patterns, with changes in temperature and rainfall in various parts of the world. This is the case of the Southern Africa region, which has been experiencing strong El Niño weather effects since 2023. These effects intensified later that year and are expected to continue until mid-2024.
AKADEMIYA2063’s El Niño 2024 in Southern Africa Webinar Series delves into the key findings from our analysis of the impact of El Niño 2024 on the Southern Africa region. The series covers the effects of climate variability related to this phenomenon, focusing on the decline in staple crop production due to the El Niño-induced drought in selected countries.
