The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has officially declared an El Niño underway, confirming that the atmosphere is now responding to unusually warm sea‑surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific. This marks the onset of a strong or potentially very strong event, although BoM stresses that strength does not always translate into proportionally strong local impacts. With a declared El Niño, the risk of bushfires is elevated.

The weather forecaster said current conditions are unprecedented due to global heat, with ocean temperatures rising rapidly in recent months. Climate groups describe the situation as a “dangerous double act” of El Niño and greenhouse gas emissions, warning that many farmers are already facing drought conditions and communities on the bushland fringe are at greater fire risk. Although recent rainfall has provided a reasonable starting point, the months ahead are expected to bring hotter, drier conditions and the likelihood of record global temperatures.