El Niño strengthens as Australia faces warmer, drier months ahead
- 9 hours ago
- 1 min read
Australia is expected to experience hotter and drier conditions from August to October, as a strengthening El Niño continues to influence the country's weather, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The latest seasonal outlook forecasts below-average rainfall across much of eastern Australia, southeast South Australia, southwest Western Australia, and parts of the Northern Territory, raising concerns for regions already affected by prolonged dry conditions.
Bureau senior hydrologist Paul Feikema said El Niño is expected to continue strengthening, bringing drier weather to much of the south and east. Meanwhile, parts of northwestern Australia are likely to receive above-average rainfall as the wet season approaches.
The Bureau also expects above-average daytime and nighttime temperatures across most of Australia, with the strongest warming forecast for Western Australia, southeastern states, and southern Queensland. Some alpine areas have already recorded their warmest July temperatures on record.
Although national water storage levels remain around 69% full, drier soils are becoming more common in eastern and western parts of the country. Authorities also warned that increased vegetation growth in northern Australia could add to bushfire fuel loads as the fire season begins.
Climate models indicate El Niño is likely to strengthen further and could peak as a strong or very strong event during late spring or summer. Despite the warmer outlook, the Bureau says late-season frosts are still possible, particularly in areas with clear skies and dry soils.
Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.
Source : News.com
Comments