The AlOjeiri Scientific Center, in collaboration with the Swiss organization MeteoBlue, analyzed the reasons behind the rise in temperatures in 2023 and early 2024, which led to a decrease in the feeling of cold weather this season.
The center's Director General, Eng. Yusef AlOjeiri stated in a press release that the current winter season has experienced higher temperatures compared to the annual average. He noted that during the current winter season, particularly the "Murbaniyah" period, there has been a noticeable decrease in coldness compared to usual. The average temperatures during the "Murbaniyah" season from December 7, 2023, to January 14, 2024, are the highest recorded compared to the same period in the last six years.
AlOjeiri pointed out that temperatures during this year's "Murbaniyah" season averaged 17.16 degrees Celsius, whereas they ranged between 14.81 and 15.39 degrees Celsius during the past six years, representing an increase of approximately 1.77 degrees Celsius.
He added that according to the opinions of weather experts participating in the analysis, the rise in temperatures this year is linked to two main factors: the climate changes occurring worldwide and the El Niño phenomenon, which is a natural event associated with rising temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, thereby impacting temperatures globally.
AlOjeiri mentioned that satellite images analyzed by experts showed a clear effect of the El Niño phenomenon on the Arabian Gulf, noting that the temperatures recorded in the Arabian Gulf were higher than average between last summer and the current winter.