MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

El Niño Cranks Up The Heat This Summer

Higher temperatures and more rain forecasted

Summer is coming to Chile in less than a month and climatologists predict thermometers will be rising more than usual due to El Niño, the warm ocean current that wreaks havoc on the climates of countries along the Pacific Ocean.

The average temperature is predicted to rise by a 1°C in the central and northern parts of Chile. Higher than normal rainfall is expected in the south - up to 30% more; in fact, the amount of southern rainfall has been increasing ever since October.

El Niño’s effects have been felt in Chile since June and are expected to continue through March 2010.

By Asia Lindsay - Santiago Times