A dead animal lies in the sun near Lokitaung in northern Kenya's Turkana county where a biting drought has ravaged livestock population.[Photo: Daily Nation]

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The year 2017 is set to be on top three hottest years with record-breaking extreme weather, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has said in a provisional report.WMO says the average global temperature from January to September was approximately 1.1°C above the pre-industrial era, according to Reuters.As a result of a powerful El Niño, 2016 is likely to remain the warmest year on record, with 2017 and 2015 being second and third whie 2013-17 will be the warmest five-year period on record.Meteorological Organisation Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the past three years have all been in the top three years in terms of temperature records. "This is part of a long-term warming trend," Taalas says.The report further says that long-term indicators of climate change such as increasing carbon dioxide concentrations, sea level rise and ocean acidification continue unabated.The WMO statement, which covers January to September, was released on Monday during the opening day of the UN climate change conference in Bonn, Germany.Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change, which is hosting the Bonn conference, said the findings underline the rising risks to people and economies if the Paris Agreement is not taken seriously.The Paris Agreement says developed countries will continue to mobilise finance to support developing countries. The United States under President Donald Trump administration withdrew from the agreement alleging it was based on false figures and findings.Locally, Kenya has witnessed extreme weather patterns like the ongoing flashfloods in several parts of the country that left wanton destruction of property and key infrastructure like roads, bridges among others.Before then, the country had witnessed ravaging drought leading the national government to declare the drought a national disaster after over 20 counties were reported to be facing food shortages.