Australia Says El Niño Could Become Strongest in Seven Decades
Summary
Australia's weather agency has confirmed the arrival of El Niño, a climate pattern causing warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific. This event is expected to become one of the strongest in the past 70 years, leading to drier and hotter conditions in Australia and affecting weather in the United States.Key Facts
- El Niño has formed over the tropical Pacific with warmer ocean temperatures.
- Australia's Bureau of Meteorology expects this El Niño to be very strong, possibly one of the strongest since 1950.
- The event is likely to cause below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures in much of southern and eastern Australia from July to September.
- El Niño increases risk of frosts, fires, and stress on crops and livestock in Australia.
- Australia is a major exporter of wheat, sugar, and beef, so El Niño can affect global food markets.
- The 2015-2016 El Niño caused widespread drought and lower crop production in Australia.
- In the U.S., El Niño winters usually bring wetter and stormier weather to the southern states and milder winters to the northern states.
- El Niño can reduce the number of Atlantic hurricanes by creating stronger winds high in the atmosphere.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.