The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has officially declared the onset of the El Niño climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
According to ABC News, the bureau warns that the event increases the risk of hot weather and drought in some parts of the country. Sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific have already reached El Niño levels, and the event is expected to be particularly strong.
Experts note that El Niño typically reduces rainfall and raises temperatures in eastern and southeastern Australia. This increases the risk of wildfires, drought, and lower agricultural productivity.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has also confirmed El Niño formation. There is a 63% chance it will be among the strongest since records began in 1950. Forecasts indicate that the upcoming winter and spring in Australia, especially in the east and south, will be drier and hotter than normal.
El Niño is a periodic warming of sea surface waters in the equatorial Pacific, significantly affecting global weather. In Australia, it is traditionally linked to drought, heatwaves, and bushfires. The last such event occurred in 2023-2024.
