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Climate scientists are warning an El Nino event in the Pacific brings bushfire conditions, with drier and warmer weather expected for parts of Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the weather event and said forecasts signalled a "strong to very strong" El Nino climatic pattern, but a potent system does not necessarily bring strong weather impacts for Australia. Climate Councillor Andrew Watkins, formerly of the Australian Climate Service and Bureau of Meteorology, said El Nino and climate change were an alarming combination, with the latter already adding about 1.5C of warming to the system. "Climate pollution from coal, oil and gas supercharges heat, dangerous fire weather and aggressive events like flash droughts ...  together, climate pollution and El Nino are loading the dice towards record heat and fire conditions," he said. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday ascribed a 63 per cent chance of an El Nino of record-breaking strength developing later in 2026. Australia's climate is driven by more than just the El Nino–Southern Oscillation patterns that cycles in the Pacific Ocean periodically, including the Indian Ocean Dipole, which is…

The Bureau of Meteorology has followed other international climate agencies, such as the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in officially declaring an El Nino climatic event in the Pacific Ocean. Loginor signup to continue reading Sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are above El Nino thresholds, along with the Nino index, which is at 0.92 degrees, above the threshold of 0.80 degrees, which has led to the Bureau making its call this week. The Bureau also warns that the event is likely to be strong to very strong, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific. Around half of the models surveyed by the Bureau indicate this event could peak at levels among the highest observed since 1950. However, while El Nino is well known for being correlated with below average rainfall and heat, it is not the only climate driver influencing the weather, and other factors remain, for now, somewhat more positive. The Indian Ocean Dipole, for example, remains neutral, with a slightly negative (correlated with above average rainfall) reading at present of -0.13 degrees. While the Bureau said models suggested the forming of a positive IOD event wa…

Australia declares strong El Nino in tropical Pacific as risks to ... - Nst SYDNEY: Australia's weather bureau on Tuesday said an El Nino event is underway in the tropical Pacific, with atmospheric indicators like trade winds, pressure and cloud patterns aligning with the weather phenomenon. "Forecasts are pointing towards a strong to very strong El Nino event, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific," the Bureau of Meteorology said. El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. The weather pattern is particularly damaging to Australia as it impacts agricultural production in the country - among the world's largest exporters of wheat, sugar and beef. One of the strongest such patterns occurred in 2015 and 2016, triggering widespread drought and leading to reduced grain and oilseed output.

Climate scientists are warning an El Nino event in the Pacific brings bushfire conditions, with drier and warmer weather expected for parts of Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the weather event and said forecasts signalled a "strong to very strong" El Nino climatic pattern, but a potent system does not necessarily bring strong weather impacts for Australia. Climate Councillor Andrew Watkins, formerly of the Australian Climate Service and Bureau of Meteorology, said El Nino and climate change were an alarming combination, with the latter already adding about 1.5C of warming to the system. "Climate pollution from coal, oil and gas supercharges heat, dangerous fire weather and aggressive events like flash droughts ...  together, climate pollution and El Nino are loading the dice towards record heat and fire conditions," he said. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday ascribed a 63 per cent chance of an El Nino of record-breaking strength developing later in 2026. Australia's climate is driven by more than just the El Nino–Southern Oscillation patterns that cycles in the Pacific Ocean periodically, including the Indian Ocean Dipole, which is…

BoM forecasts strong El Niño and warns climate change could amplify any effects on Australia <p>El Niño events linked with extreme weather around the world – and can increase risk of bushfires in Australia and coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jun/16/australia-news-live-victoria-wfh-work-from-home-labor-fuel-excise-budget-cost-of-living-albanese-chalmers-one-nation-hanson-rba-interest-rates-decision-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared an El Niño – the phenomenon linked to hotter and drier conditions for Australia – is now locked in place in the tropical Pacific Ocean.</p><p>The bureau warned climate change would amplify the effects on Australia, including the risk of extreme heat and bushfires.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.…

El Niño Weather Pattern Set to Return to Australia This Winter ... Australia is bracing for the return of El Niño, a powerful climate phenomenon that could significantly impact weather patterns across the continent in the coming months. The Bureau of Meteorology, along with international weather agencies, is forecasting that this climate shift will likely occur during the upcoming winter season, marking the first El Niño event since spring 2023. “The models are really aligning now,” said Felicity Gamble, a senior climatologist with the Bureau of Meteorology. “We are expecting a transition to El Niño sometime during winter.” This convergence of climate models suggests a high degree of confidence in the forecast, prompting authorities to advise Australians to prepare for the associated weather changes. El Niño events typically bring hotter and drier conditions to eastern Australia, which can have far-reaching consequences for agriculture, water resources, and fire risk management. The phenomenon occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than average, disrupting normal weather patterns across the Pacific region and beyond. For Austral…

Live: Experts answer your questions about El Niño and its impact on Australia With the Bureau of Meteorology formally declaring an El Niño event, two experts unpack what this will mean for Australia's weather in the coming months. Follow live.

Australia declares strong El Nino in tropical Pacific as risks to agriculture loom The weather pattern ‌is particularly damaging to Australia as it impacts agricultural production in the country

Australia warns El Nino weather pattern set to be strongest in decades Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says forecasts have pointed towards a &#039;very strong El Nino event&#039;.

Late autumn rain has been particularly welcome for farmer Paul Manwaring ahead of a potentially dry, warm few months. Decent pasture growth after a dry start to the year should serve his modest Cootamundra livestock operation well, with an El Nino climate pattern confirmed in the Pacific. While Australia's weather is driven by more than just El Nino-Southern Oscillation patterns and no two events are the same, El Nino has historically been linked to less rain and warmer temperatures in eastern regions throughout winter and spring. While the southwestern NSW property was reasonably well-placed for a drier spell, Mr Manwaring told AAP the long-range outlook had still complicated his forward-planning. The beef breeder was considering leasing more country but livestock prices could turn volatile with forecasts hinting towards less rain. El Nino announcements can trigger short-lived slumps in livestock prices as saleyards are flooded in anticipation of dry conditions, often followed by prices climbing again due to diminished herds. The thought of servicing lease payments while negotiating fluctuating cattle prices was enough to have Mr Manwaring thinking twice. Rose Roche, leader…

Australia declares strong El Nino in tropical Pacific as risks to ... Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 12:39 AM Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Whatsapp SYDNEY, June 16 (Reuters) – Australia’s weather bureau on Tuesday said an El Nino event is underway in the tropical Pacific, with atmospheric indicators like trade winds, pressure and cloud patterns aligning with the weather phenomenon. “Forecasts are pointing towards a strong to very strong El Nino event, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific,” the Bureau of Meteorology said. El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean The weather pattern is particularly damaging to Australia as it impacts agricultural production in the country – among the world’s largest exporters of wheat, sugar and beef. One of the strongest such patterns occurred in 2015 and 2016, triggering widespread drought and leading to reduced grain and oilseed output. (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Christopher Cushing) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

Australia declares possible strongest El Niño in decades - RTE Updated / Tuesday, 16 Jun 2026 11:13 El Niño could affect agricultural production in Australia Australia's weather bureau has warned that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify to become one of the strongest in seven decades. Forecasters expect the stronger weather event to bring excessive rains to the Americas and hot, dry conditions in Asia where crop planting is already being disrupted, raising concerns about food supplies in the world's most populous region. Sea surface temperatures in the region exceeded El Niño thresholds and atmospheric indicators all aligned with the phenomenon that brings extremes of weather, the Bureau of Meteorology said. "Forecasts are pointing towards a strong to very strong El Niño event, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific," it said in a statement. "Around half of the models indicate this event could peak at levels among the highest observed since 1950." Scientists have said climate change will supercharge the effects of this year's El Niño. A periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Paci…