Thiruvananthapuram: Meteorologists have indicated signs of La Nia developing in thePacific Ocean, along with the presence of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) in the Arabian Sea. They have also warned of a cyclonic circulation forming near the Maldives and the equator.

As part of the “swell surge” phenomenon, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has predicted coastal flooding along the Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts today (15/01/2025) until 5:30 PM.

La Nia causes the jet stream to move northward and to weaken over the eastern Pacific . During La Nia winters, the South sees warmer and drier conditions than usual. The North and Canada tend to be wetter and colder. During La Nia, waters off the Pacific coast are colder and contain more nutrients than usual.

La Nia means Little Girl in Spanish. is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti-El Nio, or simply “a cold event. has the opposite effect of El Nio. During La Nia events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia. Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.

What is El Nino and La Nina?

El Nio and La Nia areclimate patternsin the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide. During normal conditions in the Pacific Ocean, trade winds blow west along the equator, taking warm water from South America towards Asia. To replace that warm water, cold water rises from the depths a process called upwelling. El Nio and La Nia are two opposing climate patterns that break these normal conditions. Scientists call these phenomena the El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.

El Nio and La Nia can both have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies. Episodes of El Nio and La Nia typically last nine to 12 months, but can sometimes last for years. El Nio and La Nia events occur every two to seven years, on average, but they dont occur on a regular schedule. Generally, El Nio occurs more frequently than La Nia.

Waves are expected to reach heights of 0.5 to 1.0 meters, posing a risk of sea incursion. Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions due to the heightened threat of sea erosion.

Meanwhile, on January 19, 2025, a yellow alert is also issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki

A yellow alert has been declared in these districts, forecasting isolated heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall is defined as receiving between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm of rain within 24 hours. Residents are advised to stay cautious and take necessary precautions in light of the expected weather conditions.

Avoid Danger Zones: prone to sea erosion and coastal flooding are advised to relocate to safer locations as per instructions from the authorities.

Refrain from Launching Small Vessels: avoid deploying small boats and fishing vessels into the sea during this period.

Exercise Caution During High Waves: such as launching or retrieving fishing vessels is highly dangerous during instances of rough seas and high waves. Avoid such activities when the intensity of waves is expected to increase.