El Niño may disrupt Faroese weather

A strong El Niño event in the Pacific could trigger heatwaves and more unstable weather worldwide, including in the Faroe Islands, meteorologists warn.

El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon where unusually warm ocean temperatures develop near the equator in the Pacific, weakening trade winds, according to Knud Simonsen, a PhD ocean and weather researcher at the Faroese Meteorological Office.

Simonsen said the phenomenon can cause heatwaves, increased rainfall, and more volatile weather globally. While the event originates in the Pacific, some researchers believe it may also influence conditions in the North Atlantic and the Faroe Islands.

“It could lead to more unstable weather here, though researchers are not in full agreement on the extent of the impact,” Simonsen said.