GENEVA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- An El Nino event currently well established across the tropical Pacific is very likely to continue at least through the remainder of 2009 and into the first quarter of 2010, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Tuesday.

    In a statement, the UN agency said that some climate patterns typical of El Nino had been observed in the tropical Pacific Oceanover the last several months.

    The expected continued presence of El Nino into early 2010 has implications for many climate patterns around the world over the next several months, keeping in view the fact that, in some regions, impacts typically continue during the decay phase, it said.

    According to the agency, decay of the El Nino event to near-neutral conditions across the tropical Pacific during the approximate March-May 2010 period is considered the most likely further development.

    The possibilities of a second year of El Nino conditions or rapid transition to a La Nina situation are considered unlikely at this time.

    The WMO said El Nino and La Nina represented anomalous conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Typical El Nino/La Nina events are strongly coupled to large-scale atmospheric circulation, and had significant regional climatic impacts across the world.