Why Australia could be heading for a spring and summer 'triple whammy'
As parts of the northern hemisphere swelter through record-breaking heat, what could Australians expect after winter?
Three significant climate forces are aligning ahead of spring, increasing the chances of hotter and drier conditions across parts of Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts the El Niño event will intensify into a very strong one that may last into the following year. Meanwhile, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is projected to emerge by spring.
Together, the combined effects of climate change, El Niño, and a positive IOD could create a "triple whammy" for Australia. Andrew Watkins, an adjunct professor at Monash University and a Climate Council researcher, stated that while an El Niño doesn't guarantee hotter and drier conditions, it does increase the likelihood. BoM climatologist Zhi-Weng Chua anticipates that much of Australia's south-east and south-west could experience one of the warmest springs on record.
Meanwhile, Western Australia, as well as parts of southern Queensland and South Australia, face a high probability of temperatures ranking in the top 20% of historical records for spring.
Written by urgent.news from SBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
