{
  "id": 219178,
  "title": "Australian researchers predict strongest El Niño since 1950",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/australian-researchers-predict-strongest-el-nino-since-1950",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-06T11:26:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Africa Business",
    "slug": "africa-business",
    "url": "https://african.business/2026/08/resources/australian-researchers-predict-strongest-el-nino-since-1950"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australian scientists anticipate the most intense El Niño event since 1950, as forecasted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The Bureau's models suggest this upcoming El Niño could reach levels equal to or surpassing the highest recorded since 1950. The Southern Oscillation Index, a key indicator of El Niño, reached -29.1 in July, a measurement above -7, which typically defines an El Niño event. This data, along with other analyses, indicates the current event is likely to be among the strongest on record.",
  "summary": "Data suggests a very strong El Niño approaching, with higher temperatures predicted to bring droughts to some areas and flooding to others.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}