The climate change-inducing phenomenon known as El Niño is expected to appear in the year's second half.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said while the temperature of the Pacific Ocean near the equator is at a level similar to the previous year, it is expected to go up by a half degree Celsius from August, prompting the potentially disastrous En Niño for the first time in four years.

El Niño is a band of irregularly warm ocean water temperatures that periodically develop off the Pacific coast of South America, causing fluctuating droughts, floods, and crop yields in varying regions of the world.

In Korea, past El Niños brought abnormally warm winter temperatures and bursts of heavy snow.