Signs of the next El Nino phenomenon, which creates abnormal weather conditions worldwide and raises sea surface temperatures off Peru, are on the increase, according to the Meteorological Agency.
The agency said sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific region last month were 0.4 degrees lower than usual, but warm seawater coming from the west has neared the coast of Peru. As a result, temperatures in waters off Peru will be warmer than usual in the coming one or two months, the agency said.
Earlier, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the phenomenon could develop in the next three months over a wide area of the equatorial Pacific, and that the warming so far observed is representative of the "early stage of El Nino's onset."
The El Nino phenomenon involves periodic rising of seawater temperatures in the equatorial Pacific that disrupts global weather patterns. It has brought unusually cool summers and unusually warm winters to Japan.