Australia: Drought danger as El Niño officially returns

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has officially confirmed a return to El Niño for the first time in five years. The Bureau’s Assistant Director for Climate Information Services, Mr Neil Plummer, said, "Prolonged El Niño-like conditions have meant that some areas are more vulnerable to the impact of warmer temperatures and drier conditions."

But Mr Plummer noted that while the El Niño is forecast to strengthen during winter, the strength of an El Niño does not necessarily mean a corresponding impact on rainfall here. El Nino effects include lower rainfall, temperature extremes, increased bushfire risk, disrupted tropical weather and reduced winter snowfall.