"GENEVA -- An El Nino weather pattern warming the Pacific Ocean and linked to drought in South Asia is likely to continue through the first quarter of 2010, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.

The phenomenon, which began in June and intensified in October, has 'implications for many climate patterns around the world over the next several months,' the WMO said.

But a second year of El Nino conditions or rapid transition to a La Nina pattern -- its counterpart in which waters cool -- are considered 'unlikely,' according to the United Nations agency."

Stephanie Nebehay reports for Reuters December 2, 2009. [2]